Fees and charges
Every charge that can appear on a Drive Subscribe agreement, written down before you order rather than after.
Taken from Annex 1 of your vehicle agreement. Last updated 24th September 2026.
Most leasing companies keep this list in the agreement and let you find it later. We'd rather put it on a page you can read before you order anything, because a charge you knew about in advance isn't the same as one that turns up in month seven.
None of these are charged as a matter of course. Most customers pay their monthly figure, hand the vehicle back and never see a single line on this page. It's here so that if one of them ever does apply, you already knew it existed and what it costs.
Everything below is exclusive of VAT, and everything below comes from your vehicle agreement rather than this website. Where the two ever appear to disagree, the agreement is the one that counts.
Getting the vehicle to you and back
| Charge | Amount | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Aborted delivery | £180 + VAT | Charged when we arrive and the vehicle can't be handed over — nobody there, no licence to check, no insurance in place. |
| Aborted collection | £180 + VAT | The same at the other end, if we arrive to collect and can't. |
| Delivery and collection | Free | Anywhere in mainland Britain, excluding the Scottish Highlands. Both ways. |
Servicing and keeping the vehicle right
| Charge | Amount | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Missed service | £500 + VAT | Charged if a service interval is passed by more than 500 miles. It also takes the vehicle out of manufacturer warranty, which is the more expensive half of the problem. Tell us when the dashboard starts counting down and none of this arises. |
| Scheduled servicing and maintenance | Free | Booked by us at an approved service centre and paid for by us, for the whole term. |
| Lost key | From £450 + VAT | A minimum — the real figure depends on the manufacturer, and on some cars it is considerably more. |
Returning the vehicle
| Charge | Amount | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Light valet | £30 + VAT | Charged only where the vehicle comes back needing more than a normal clean. |
| Medium valet | £75 + VAT | |
| Heavy valet | £150 + VAT | |
| Alloy wheel damage | £125 + VAT per wheel | Where the damage is 20mm or greater. Smaller marks fall inside BVRLA fair wear and tear and aren't charged. |
| End of hire charges — admin | £40 + VAT | A one-off administration fee, charged only where there are end-of-hire charges to process. |
| Late return, days 1–7 | 100% of the daily rate | Per day, on top of the rental, if the vehicle is kept past the end date without agreement. |
| Late return, days 8–14 | 150% of the daily rate | |
| Late return, days 15–21 | 200% of the daily rate | |
| Late return, day 22 onward | 300% of the daily rate |
Fines, charges and paperwork that arrive after the event
| Charge | Amount | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Speeding fine — admin | £40 + VAT | We're the registered keeper, so notices come to us. The fee covers transferring it to you; the fine itself is separate and yours. |
| Parking fine — admin | £40 + VAT | |
| Unpaid congestion charge — admin | £40 + VAT | |
| Unpaid toll — admin | £40 + VAT | |
| Foreign travel (VE103B) | £40 + VAT | The document proving you're allowed to take a hired vehicle abroad. Ask before you travel, not after. |
Payments
| Charge | Amount | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Late payment notification | £50 + VAT | Charged when a payment is missed and we have to chase it. |
| Late payment | £50 + VAT |
What isn't on this list
Your monthly rental, your mileage allowance and your excess mileage rate are all set out on your own agreement, because they vary by vehicle and term. The upfront costs — first month's rental, the documentation fee and the refundable deposit — are shown on every term page before you apply.
Fair wear and tear
Vehicles are inspected on return against the BVRLA fair wear and tear standard, which is an independent industry benchmark rather than anything we wrote. It allows for a vehicle that has been used. Scratches, scuffs and honest wear are expected; damage is not.
Tyres
Tyres worn out through normal use are covered and replaced at our cost. Punctures, kerb damage, and tyres ruined by a pothole are down to the driver — as is any tyre worn unevenly through a fault that wasn't reported.
If you think a charge is wrong
Tell us. Ring 0333 772 1886 or email hello@drivesubscribe.com and we'll go through it with you. If we still can't agree, our complaints procedure sets out what happens next, and as a BVRLA member we're bound by their independent conciliation service.
Common questions
What fees can I be charged on a short term lease?
Everything we can charge is listed on this page, and it comes from Annex 1 of your vehicle agreement. The ones most likely to apply are a missed service (£500 + VAT), an aborted delivery or collection (£180 + VAT), a £40 + VAT administration fee on any fine or toll notice we have to transfer to you, and late return charged at 100–300% of the daily rate depending how late. Most customers pay none of them.
Is there a charge for returning a lease car dirty?
Only if it needs more than a normal clean: £30 + VAT for a light valet, £75 for medium, £150 for heavy. A wash the day before collection usually avoids it entirely, and it also makes the vehicle easier to inspect fairly.
What happens if I return a lease vehicle late?
You're charged the daily rate on top of the rental, and it escalates: 100% of the daily rate for the first week, 150% for the second, 200% for the third, and 300% from day 22. Tell us before the end date and we'll usually just extend the agreement instead, which is far cheaper.
Who pays a speeding ticket or congestion charge on a lease car?
You do — the fine itself is always the driver's. Because we're the registered keeper the notice comes to us first, and there's a £40 + VAT administration fee for transferring it to you. Paying congestion and clean air charges on time avoids the whole thing.
What does it cost to take a lease car abroad?
£40 + VAT for the VE103B, the document that proves you're entitled to take a hired vehicle out of the country. Ask us before you travel — without it you can be turned back or fined at the border.
The rest of the detail sits on how car leasing works and in our car lease FAQs. The servicing point above is explained properly in who books the service on a lease car.
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The flexible short term car & van lease service from ACL Automotive Contracts. FCA regulated, BVRLA member, 20+ years in vehicle leasing.
© Drive Subscribe is a trading style of ACL Automotive Contracts Ltd 2026
Drive Subscribe is a trading style of ACL Automotive Contracts Limited, who are registered in England | Registered number 06296885 | VAT number 338 855 754 | DPA number Z100466X
ACL Automotive Contracts Limited t/a Drive Subscribe are an owner and broker of hire who are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, registration number 730720. Member of the British Vehicle Rental & Leasing Association (BVRLA). Complaints we cannot resolve may be referred to the Financial Ombudsman Service. Prices shown are indicative and subject to status and availability.