Who is the registered keeper of a lease car?

‘Registered keeper’ is an old-fashioned-sounding phrase. It’s often used interchangeably with ‘owner’ when we talk about a car, but the really ‘registered keeper’ doesn’t mean the same thing.

The registered keeper is the person or company responsible for a car. This may well also be the owner, but not necessarily.

Leasing a car is one circumstance which muddies the waters between who owns the car and who is the registered keeper. This Carwow guide will explain.

Who is the registered keeper of a lease car?

The registered keeper of a lease car is the person or company named on the V5C logbook. When leasing, this will be the finance company leasing the vehicle, not the driver.

Responsibility for the car lies with the registered keeper. That means the leasing company is ultimately responsible for making sure the car is taxed, insured, and maintained.

However, while leasing a car some of these responsibilities are passed on to the person named in the leasing agreement. Typically, the leasing company will arrange Vehicle Excise Duty (otherwise known as car tax). The person leasing the car will usually arrange insurance and maintenance (unless a maintenance contract is included in the leasing agreement).

Registered keeper vs legal owner

When leasing a car, the registered keeper and legal owner are both the finance company. The person leasing the car is neither the owner nor the registered keeper.

It seems counterintuitive but think of leasing as being like renting a car while on holiday. When you run around in a hire car for a fortnight, you’re clearly not the owner or the registered keeper, but you are responsible for taking care of the car and will have to pay any parking fines or speeding tickets. Leasing a car is just the same, but over a longer period of time.

What responsibilities does the registered keeper of a lease car have?

The registered keeper has certain responsibilities for the car, although in practice this may be passed on to the person named on the lease (the lessee).

• Logbook/V5C

The V5C will show the name of the car’s registered keeper. When leasing a car, this will be the finance company, not the person named in the leasing agreement.

• Parking permits

If you need to arrange a parking permit for work or for parking on the street where you live, that’s down to you as the lessee of the vehicle.

• Parking fines and speeding tickets

Fines and tickets will go to the leasing company as the registered keeper. However, they will then be passed on to the lessee. You (or whoever was driving the car at the time) will have to pay, not the leasing company.

• Vehicle Excise Duty (VED)/car tax

The annual cost of taxing the car will be covered by the leasing company as the registered keeper of the car.

• Administrative fees

There may be admin fees to pay. These will be explained in the finance agreement. The lessee (the driver) will have to pay them to the leasing company (the owner/registered keeper)

Does the registered keeper affect my insurance?

When a car is leased, the registered keeper is not the driver. The insurance premium depends on the driver, not the leasing company.

As the lessee/driver, it’s your responsibility to make sure the car is insured. The premium you pay will depend on where you live, where you park the car, your driving record, and so on. It doesn’t matter which leasing company you are leasing the car from, it’s the driver that counts for insurance purposes.

Some car leasing companies offer all-inclusive packages that include insurance, but the portion of the monthly leasing payment that covers insurance will still depend on the driver.

Registered keepers FAQs

Does it matter who is the registered keeper of a car?

Yes, it matters. The registered keeper is the person or company legally responsible for the car, so it’s very important that the registered keeper should be recorded correctly on the V5C logbook.

Can I put a private plate on my leased car?

Yes, you can put a private plate on a lease car. Just remember that you will need the permission of the leasing company first. The leasing company is the registered keeper.

Can I take my leased car abroad?

A leased car can be taken abroad, yes. You will need to make sure you have adequate insurance in place. It’s also important that you inform the leasing company, giving them plenty of time to send you a VE103 certificate. This proves that you have permission to take the vehicle abroad.

Should I lease a car?

If you prefer to change your car regularly and would like to spread the cost of running a car over equal monthly payments, then leasing is a good option. Leasing also protects you against depreciation (a car’s loss in value over time), as it will be up to the leasing company to sell the car when the agreement ends. Leasing gives you the benefit of a new car without some of the downsides of ownership.

Looking for an easy way to change your car? Then Carwow is the place to go. You can sell your car for a great price, and get the best deals on a new car. All through our network of trusted dealers and all from the comfort of your home. Tap the button below to get started today.