So-just what exactly happens to these vehicles when they come to the "end" of their leases?...auction? sold as "nearly new" at a proper dealer? shunted down the road to the nearest independent second hand showroom? polished up and put on Autotrader?

"I can only speak for the contract hire arrangements I've had for my last several company cars, but with all of these I've been able to simply carry on paying the monthly payments on a month-by-month basis after the 3 year / 36,000 miles contract expired.

This has been useful to cover delays in delivering replacement cars, etc."

Just done this with my wife's car. The replacement has been delayed by about two months. i spoke to Arval who said that they only did six months or 12 months extensions, but I could simply not return the car and they would simply continue charging until I did return it. Simples!

Your contract is probably with Volkswagen Financial Services (VWFS, in this case trading as SEAT Finance, the most intransigent of all UK leasing companies whose only redeeming feature is that, generally, they offer the best contract prices on VAG Group products.

They will only extend contracts if the Lessee can demonstrate that they have a replacement VAG Group car on order through a dealer. Your broker is definitely correct if the contract is with VWFS.

Neither will they agree a sale of the car to anyone.

(Incidentally a strange fact is that their Lease Quotation system is alone in never having quoted CO2 emissions of cars on their quotations. Do you think that they knew something?????).

To obtain confirmation of all this call SEAT Finance on: 0370 333 4446.