Ex-Lease EVs: What You’re Really Buying

Ex-lease EVs make up the majority of used electric cars in the UK. But the term "ex-lease" hides three very different usage histories: corporate fleet vehicles, salary-sacrifice company cars, and private PCP/PCH agreements. Those categories produce very different wear patterns, charging behaviour and driver attitudes --- and you cannot tell which route a car came from just by reading a retail advert. That's the central truth buyers rarely get clear guidance on.

The value is real. Ex-lease supply keeps used prices rational (some might say honest!) and gives buyers access to well-specified cars with predictable depreciation. But the risks vary depending on which upstream life the vehicle has lived.

This article outlines what each type of lease return looks like, how to evaluate the differences, and how ex-lease compares with OEM Approved Used and private sales. And crucially, it answers the question many buyers now ask: is an ex-lease EV genuinely better value than simply leasing anew one?

1. What "Ex-Lease" Really Means in Today's Used EV Market

Three major sources, very different behaviours

When a car is labelled "ex-lease," it usually comes from one of the following:

1. Corporate fleet (business contract hire):

Vehicles assigned to employees for work, often with strict servicing compliance and predictable annual mileage. Drivers rarely choose the exact specification. Cars are treated as tools rather than personal assets.

2. Salary-sacrifice lease (benefit-in-kind schemes):

Massive growth area for EVs since 2020 due to low BIK rates. Drivers choose the car, spec it themselves, and treat it more like a personal possession. Typically cared for well, usually home-charged, and often kept in excellent cosmetic condition.

3. Consumer PCP/PCH:

Private drivers leasing the car themselves for 2--4 years. This is now the largest group feeding the used EV market. Care level varies: some owners treat the car meticulously, others delay servicing or run tyres low to minimise costs before hand-back.

All three fall under the "ex-lease" umbrella, but the assumptions you can make differ drastically.

Mileage patterns

Typical mileage differs:

• Corporate fleet: 10k--15k per year
• Salary sacrifice: 6k--12k per year
• Consumer PCP/PCH: 5k--10k per year

Charging patterns

The most meaningful differentiator is charging:

• Fleet: more public DC
• Salary-sacrifice: overwhelmingly home charging
• PCP/PCH: mixed but often home-based

2. The Lifecycle of an EV Before It Reaches the Used Market

Corporate fleet lifecycle

Servicing is enforced strictly; tyres and windscreens replaced promptly; cabin wear higher. Battery health strong due to motorway use; downside is heavier rapid-charging.

Salary-sacrifice lifecycle

Often the best-kept ex-lease EVs. Drivers choose the car, garage it, spec it well, and charge at home. Gentle cycling, excellent cabin condition.

Consumer PCP/PCH lifecycle

The most variable. Some owners follow servicing precisely; others delay. Charging behaviour varies. Underuse can occasionally cause minor cell imbalance.

3. Pros and Cons of Ex-Lease Cars --- Split by Lease Type

Corporate Fleet

Pros: reliable servicing, strong battery cycling, predictable mileage. Cons: higher DC exposure, heavier cabin wear, more suspension fatigue.

Salary-Sacrifice

Pros: excellent condition, home charging, low DC use, careful ownership. Cons: minimal structural drawbacks.

Consumer PCP/PCH

Pros: strong cosmetic condition, varied specs, lower average mileage. Cons: inconsistent servicing, mixed charging, occasional underuse imbalance.

4. The Misconception That All Ex-Lease EVs Are "Fleet Cars"

Many ex-lease EVs are simply privately used cars financed via lease. Some of the best-kept used EVs come from salary-sacrifice and PCP households, not fleets.

5. How Ex-Lease Compares With Other Channels

Ex-Lease vs Manufacturer Approved Used (AU)

• Ex-lease: better cycling history, lower price, transparent grading.
• AU: superior cosmetic prep, longer warranties, branding reassurance.

Ex-Lease vs Private Sales

Ex-lease: documentation, servicing, predictable wear, warranty continuity. Private: potentially better cosmetic condition, occasionally lower prices.

6. Are Ex-Lease EVs Always Better Value Than Leasing New?

Leasing new consumes the steepest depreciation curve (£16--20k over three years). Ex-lease avoids this and typically depreciates only £4--6k over the next three.

Leasing wins if you want newness and fixed payments. Ex-lease wins if you value cost efficiency and home charging.

7. What to Verify --- Because Provenance Isn't Shown in the Advert

• Battery health report
• Service and update history
• Charge-port and cooling condition
• Cabin wear
• Suspension feel
• Tyre and brake patterns

8. When Ex-Lease Is the Right Choice

Ex-lease suits buyers focusing on capability, not first-owner privilege. Salary-sacrifice returns are often standout examples.

9. How to Decide

You don't need explicit provenance --- just evidence of care. If battery health, software, suspension, and cabin condition align, the car is likely excellent. If anything is unclear, move on.

Ex-lease EVs aren't a distinct category; they're a spectrum. Evaluated properly, they often represent the most rational entry point into EV ownership today.