7 Fleet Leasing Trends in 2025

26 March 2025

Topics: Efficiencies and Savings, Risk Management

A row of white commercial vans parked in a lot, symbolizing the benefits of fleet leasing, with a graphic overlay featuring a magnifying glass and an upward arrow on a rising bar chart.

The latest FN50 Report from Fleet News offers a comprehensive view of the UK’s top 50 vehicle leasing companies and it paints a picture of a sector in flux. While the total number of funded vehicles hit a record high, profits fell, driven largely by the continued decline in electric vehicle (EV) residual values.

Based on data and commentary from leasing company leaders, the report explores key trends shaping fleet strategy today: from the growing importance of salary sacrifice schemes and shifts in funding preferences, to operational challenges around EV adoption and the vital role of the fleet manager.

What’s more, the average fair wear and tear charges have dropped, despite longer leases and higher mileage.

We’ve summarised 7 key findings to highlight what fleet decision-makers need to know. Alternatively, read the full report.

1. Fleets hit record high

FN50 leasing companies now manage 1.8 million cars and vans – the highest ever. Both cars and vans contributed to this growth (vans rebounded after a drop last year). Profits fell by 32% (down £645m), mainly due to falling EV residual values, despite record revenues (£13.6bn).

We interviewed Simon Brown, Fleet Sales Manager at Vansdirect, to get his thoughts on how businesses are approaching fleet procurement. Simon shared that companies seem to be retaining vehicles for longer now, rather than replacing them with newer models: “The hit of maintenance costs is generally cheaper than the cost of a vehicle upgrade.”

However, a company’s fleet is an expression of their identity, he says:

“If you see a van out and about and it’s got a company name on the side and it’s rusty, it’s scruffy… You don’t look at it and think – I’m going to use that company. If you’ve got a nice clean van, you keep on top of your fleet… you keep your staff happy, you keep bringing in more business. It pays for itself.”

See the full interview with Simon

2. Residual Value (RV) volatility is a top risk

Used electric vehicle prices have dropped more than 50% since September 2022.
RV forecasting is now very difficult, making leasing riskier and pushing up lease rates.
Leasing companies are extending contracts and launching used EV leasing products to mitigate disposal losses.

Takeaway: Review holding periods, consider extending leases, and work closely with providers on RV-aligned vehicle selection and replacement planning.

Is your fleet the right size? See our guide to fleet right-sizing and ensure your fleet utilisation is optimised for cost-efficiency. Fleet and Transport Managers are often tasked with downsizing a fleet, as companies may acquire surplus vehicles and later realise the need to streamline the fleet and optimise costs.

“A strong background in HGV operations equipped me with effective planning strategies – upon joining the company, I immediately assessed the fleet on paper using these methods. I now oversee a fleet of 95 vehicles, a deliberate reduction in fleet size. Like many large companies, surplus vehicles were previously acquired, and the appointment of a Transport Manager was intended to optimise costs, gradually streamline the fleet, and ultimately save money.”

Paul Mullins, Transport Manager

3. Electrification: Top priority with tough challenges

Electrification is the #1 concern for 33 of 35 FN50 companies, particularly for vans. EVs now make up 27.1% of new FN50 fleet deliveries, exceeding the 2024 ZEV Mandate target (22%).

Challenges include:

Public charging downtime
20% VAT on public charging vs. 5% at home
Lack of home charging options for many drivers
Lower-than-promised range on e-LCVs under load
High cost and limited availability of eLCVs models

Despite these, eLCVs accounted for 13.3% of new van deliveries. Still, diesel dominates with 88.5% of vans on fleet.

Takeaway: Use telematics and duty cycle analysis to assess feasibility and plan gradual transitions with a mixed-fuel fleets. Staying up to date with the latest government incentives can help you transition your business fleet cost-effectively.

Making the switch to EVs? Explore our guide to fleet electrification to learn the key considerations for EV fleet procurement and understand how your fleet telematics data can inform smarter decision making. Look carefully at range and payload and ensure that EV models can operate sufficiently without interrupting your operations, factoring in charging cycles and typical mileage.

See Vansdirect’s guide to choosing the right van for the nature of your daily work.

4. Fair wear and tear charges are falling

New FN50 data shows:

Average car wear and tear charge dropped to £368 (from £370).
Only 45% of vehicles incurred charges, down from 49% – lowest in 5 years.
This is despite longer leases (38 months) and higher mileage (47,265 miles)

Takeaway: Improved driver care, proactive maintenance, and clearer return policies are making a difference. Reinforce driver training to reduce end-of-term costs.

5. Funding trends: Caution and creativity

Operating lease (contract hire) dominates for both cars (85.8%) and vans (88.4%) due to its predictable cost and the leasing company taking RV risk.
Salary sacrifice continues to grow:
- Now 6.2% of car fleets, led by EV uptake
- Popular with non-essential drivers due to tax savings and flexibility
- Used EVs are being offered in salary sacrifice schemes to reduce entry cost

Takeaway: Offer salary sacrifice is a flexible tool to attract talent and support sustainability goals. Consider alongside traditional policies.

See the latest changes to benefit-in-kind tax rates for double cab pickups.

6. Service, maintenance & repair (SMR) trends

Fewer van fleets are bundling maintenance with leases:
- SMR-inclusive contracts down from 62% to 57%.
With EVs having fewer moving parts, many fleets are shifting to pay-as-you-go maintenance.

Takeaway: SMR bundles offer predictability, but good internal processes can help you save.

Learn how your fleet tracking system can help you stay on top of service dates and reduce fleet downtime. Regular vehicle safety checks prevent costly issues from developing and can be easily incorporated into your team’s routine.

7. The Fleet Manager role is more strategic than ever

Leasing companies agree that a fleet manager role is essential. The complexity of vehicle selection, data, regulations, electrification, and ESG reporting requires expert leadership.

Fleet Manager responsibilities include:

Sustainability planning
Data analysis
Policy design
Stakeholder coordination (e.g. HR, Finance, Ops)

Takeaway: If your company has no dedicated fleet leader, it may be time to revisit this. A skilled fleet manager turns data into action. See our guide to making the switch to a new telematics provider and get more from your fleet data.

“I advise any new Fleet or Transport Manager to go straight to the HR department and make as many friends as you can, because you’ll need their help throughout your career. Transport management involves people management skills, and dealing with unionised environments can sometimes be very tricky to navigate. I had to develop soft skills when I started out. You’ll need the Finance department’s help too, because without them, your fleet won’t go anywhere!”

Paul Mullins, Transport Manager

For more insights into Transport Management and Fleet Management responsibility and challenges, see our Fleet Insider Interview with Paul Mullins. Our article ‘How to monitor out of hours use of company vehicles‘ offers further tips on how to manage the safety and cost-effectiveness of your fleet when vehicles are taken home by employees.

Staying ahead in a shifting fleet landscape

The FN50 report highlights how the leasing landscape is evolving, and fast. From electrification hurdles and RV volatility to shifting funding models and smarter SMR strategies, it’s clear that fleet management is becoming more complex and more strategic.

But there’s good news too: drivers are better informed, wear and tear costs are falling, and tools like telematics and salary sacrifice are opening up new opportunities for cost control and employee engagement.

In fleet management, staying ahead means staying informed. Whether you’re refining your funding strategy, preparing for an EV transition, or simply looking to optimise operations, this data and insight offers valuable direction.

Want to dig deeper? Read the full FN50 report, check out our expert guides, or talk to our team about how Quartix can help you manage your fleet with confidence.

If you’re looking at options for managing and tracking your business fleet, check out our customer reviews and the Fleet News recommended suppliers.