In an ideal world I suspect that most schools would much prefer to buy a complete minibus package rather than shopping around for the individual elements that are required to keep the vehicle running – a maintenance programme, breakdown cover, road tax…

Yet, for many schools this is not a viable option as buying a complete package is typically much more expensive than a school budget will permit.

Benchmark have, however, designed a minibus leasing package especially for schools, and at a very reasonable price, where all you need to add is fuel and an insured/licensed driver.

And it is an option that can also work out to be much cheaper than buying a minibus outright (especially if one takes into account the re-sale value) or hiring a coach each time you need transport.

Options and details of the leasing packages that Benchmark offer are as follows…

Ford Transit Minibus 15 seat, Trend Model:
Contact Hire with Full Maintenance, Breakdown Cover and Road Tax
3 Years, 30,000 Total Miles gives Monthly Rentals of £330.88 + VAT
4 Years, 30,000 Total Miles gives Monthly Rentals of £313.37 + VAT

Ford Transit Minibus 17 seat, Trend Model:
Contact Hire with Full Maintenance, Breakdown Cover and Road Tax
3 Years, 30,000 Total Miles gives Monthly Rentals of £372.41 + VAT
4 Years, 30,000 Total Miles gives Monthly Rentals of £343.57 + VAT

Both packages outlined above include air conditioning, metallic paint (if required), heated front screen, electric mirrors, front and rear parking sensors, and fog lamps.

The leasing package/contract also includes routine servicing, replacement of worn tyres, replacement of worn brakes, repair of the exhaust, repair of the battery, delivery and collection for pre-booked servicing, breakdown cover, and road tax for the full term of the agreement.

The payment profile is 3 months initial payment upon delivery with 1 payment per month for the remainder of the lease term.

What’s more, we are able to value and dispose of older minibuses and can either pay the proceeds to the school or use it as a higher initial payment on the new leased minibus thereby reducing the ongoing payments.

If you would like to know more about our minibus leasing packages or have any questions please either visit our website, email minibus@benchmarkleasing.co.uk  or call 01753 859944.

Benchmark Leasing Ltd
11 High Street
Eton
Berkshire
SL4 6AS

www.minibusleasing.co.uk/school-minibus.php

minibus@benchmarkleasing.co.uk

Tel: 01753 859944

The second School Minibus Survey reveals that the way in which schools are paying for and using their minibuses has changed.

The second Benchmark Leasing survey of school minibus use has revealed a considerable change in the way schools are paying for and using their vehicles in recent years.

As might well be expected the survey shows a considerable growth in the number of minibuses being operated by schools, and this growth has been accompanied by a change in the way in which the vehicles are financed.

Whereas in the past the norm was to buy a minibus outright, perhaps with a donation from the PTA to help matters along, leasing is now becoming the norm.

As a result schools are able to ensure that their vehicles do not become increasingly liable to breakdown, but can instead be replaced at regular intervals as one lease ends and a new one is taken out.

In addition schools find that they are covered against any sudden extra costs for repairs and maintenance with everything included in the lease.

The most common number of minibuses per secondary school is now two or three, but for the first time over a quarter of secondary schools report that they have four or more minibuses.

At the same time over 20% of schools now report that they only have leased minibuses in the school fleet – a figure that appears to be rising very rapidly.   Likewise the number of schools that are reporting that they will lease their next minibus (rather than buy it) is higher than ever before. Buying second hand is virtually disappearing as an option.

For a free copy of the second School Minibus Survey, which also incorporates details of the current legal responsibility and requirements, please like our Facebook page and email jenny@hamilton-house.com to receive the report.

For more information about Benchmark Leasing you can go to our website, call us on 01753 859944 or email minibus@benchmarkleasing.co.uk 

The way in which schoolminibuses are being financed is changing, as are attitudes towards the use of minibuses by schools.

Benchmark Leasing has just completed its 2015 survey of minibus use by schools in the UK – and the findings make interesting reading, not least because this year we are able to compare results with those gained in the last survey in 2012.

Attitudes and approaches towards minibuses and the way to finance them are changing dramatically, as the report reveals.   Thus while there are still worries about the age of some of the school minibuses on the roads, more schools are seeing their way to replacing older vehicles sooner rather than later through leasing rather than purchasing.

The report into the 2015 minibus survey also comes with a review of the key legal issues surrounding the use of a minibus by a school. Please click here to download the report.

If you have any questions about the survey or about leasing minibuses, or indeed any other aspect of minibus use by schools please do call 01753 859944 or email minibus@benchmarkleasing.co.uk

Benchmark Leasing Ltd
11 High Street
Eton
Berkshire
SL4 6AS

www.minibusleasing.co.uk/school-minibus.php

minibus@benchmarkleasing.co.uk

Tel: 01753 859944