From the 1st of April the government are changing the taxation policy on Capital Allowances.

For car leasing companies it means that contract hire rentals will increase on some vehicles which are delivered after the 1st of April.

Until now the process has been that Capital Allowances allow a percentage of the total cost of an asset to be claimed back as an expense against profits for corporation tax over a set period of time.

Leasing companies have been able to claim back the full amount against their taxable profits in the first year of ownership on vehicles emitting C02 110/km which is why we and other car leasing companies including ourselves can offer such low contract hire prices. The C02 emissions have been lowered from 110g/km to 95g/km which is why some cars will now be more expensive to lease. However because of the the government changes we now have to charge more for some contract hire rentals which are delivered after this date. read more…

The wind is in your hair, the sun is beating down on your window arm and you have your favourite tunes on.

You may get lost, you might even take twice as long to get somewhere because you took a wrong turn, but that’s the beauty of road trips.

One of our colleagues has recently been on a road trip to Belgium in a VW Campervan which made us wonder what other destinations would make a great road trip.

10.London to Brighton

A short road trip which you can complete in a few hours however you must start in London which gives you shopping addicts an excuse to stay over the night before and visit your favourite shops. Once out of London travelling on the A23 you will shortly then join the M23 where you will be then travelling on the coat to Brighton! As the journey is relatively short you will have more time to enjoy the cool and quirky sights. Gone are the days of mods and rockers and now vintage shops and boutiques line the streets by day and by night cocktail bars aren’t hard to find. A great road trip for a long weekend! read more…

Over the past 5 years the number of people caught driving over the limit has increased significantly.

Not only is being caught over the limit devastating for the driver but it will also put a huge whole in their pockets!

The true cost of a drink driving conviction is goes much deeper than the driving ban and the fine as the Institute of Advanced Motorists has discovered that the personal financial cost of a drink driving conviction is between 20,000 and 50,000 which is a huge chunk of money which could have been easily avoided. Imagine what you could do with that money! read more…

There is nothing worse than something going  to pot with your car when you least expect it.

Which is why we should all pledge to check our cars regularly to avoid small challenges cropping up when you really don’t want them to.

Obviously you can’t prepare for everything but giving your car some TLC can make the world of difference. If you like me have neglected your car a little and feel guilty then here are some helpful checks which you should do every now and again to avoid something happening to your prized possession and avoid unwanted surprises.

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Have you ever been angry with other motorists and acted in a hasty fashion or have you become upset because of another road user?

If you answered yes you aren’t alone, as most of us at some point have felt like this while driving.

After a long debate in the office we came to the conclusion that there are a number of things motorists do which cause us to see red mist or feel threatened. Some are much more annoying than others. Many accidents each year could be avoided if we as a nation tried to stay calm whilst in the driving seat.

But what really ticks us off?

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A crime of style and offensive to the eyes. No we aren’t talking about Ke$ha‘s wardrobe, we’re talking about car modifications and accessories.

On your morning commute you get to see some strange and wonderful things especially if you are a motorist.

However many motorists’ accessories seem to fit into the annoying category rather than wonderful as we discovered on asking what the most annoying car accessories were!

Fortunately no one has any of these in the Central Contracts office but we have all seen them. Here are the worst car modifications ever. Don’t be offended if you have them just remove them and pretend you never spent the money on them in the first place.

Chavy body kits
In some cases body kits can look acceptable, but only if done correctly. They sometimes look good on the right car although when certain members of the public get hold of them and badly fit them to their vehicle they resemble a sack of potatoes.

If your son or daughter wants a body kit mention how much more it will cost in insurance and they may snap out of it. If you are contemplating a body kit yourself just think for a minute, you will most definitely make yourself look ridiculous, so just don’t bother in the first place unless that’s the look you’re going for….

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Today is a milestone for Central Contracts as it is our 15 year anniversary.

We thought that this might be an appropriate time to share our story, starting at the beginning to give you an idea of what Central Contracts is about.

Fifteen years ago today Mike Lloyd and Marc Hallsworth started Central Contracts with the aim of offering great car leasing deals to customers coupled with a professional and friendly service; they haven’t looked back since.

Previously working in banking and finance they also had a vast knowledge of the motor trade so they decided to shake things up and start their own business. The saying ‘things can only get better’ rang true for the budding business duo.

Central Contracts staff at the first offices at the Toll Gate!

Mike and Marc have spent the last 15 years building Central Contracts into one of the most well respected vehicle funding specialists in the marketplace today. The company philosophy is based around developing strong relationships with customers and offering a range of services that will exceed their expectations.

Central Contracts has access to a wide range of funders and enjoys the support of most of the major players in our industry, one of which Arval showed their support by commenting:

“Arval and Central Contracts have worked together since 2004. In this time, we have been continually impressed by their professionalism towards Arval as a partner and their commitment to high quality and innovative servicing of their customers.”

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Being able to learn to drive when you’re 17 is an exciting prospect. It’s just one of those milestone birthdays which you look forward to.

I couldn’t wait to learn to drive and I even passed first time, with only 3 minors before  my 18th birthday. This is all great for me but for today’s young motorists it seems that they have lost the drive to get behind the wheel, but why? read more…

Passed your driving test recently but at a loss as to what car to get because of insurance prices? Or are you just looking to change your car to something more purse friendly?

If this sounds familiar then this is the list you need to read. We’ve done the hard work for you.

Suzuki Alto 1.0 SZ2 

The 5th cheapest car to insure this year is the small Suzuki Alto. The Alto is the perfect car for city living as it is small enough to fit into the craziest of spaces. One of the many benefits of this model is that it has 5 doors allowing your passengers to get in easily without a fuss.

There’s more to the Alto than meets the eye as it is one of the cheapest cars on sale today and is exempt from car excess duty (road tax). A safe choice for those looking to save money on their motoring costs!

The downside? The Suzuki Alto doesn’t come with a huge amount of gadgets or bags of equipment. If you like to get the air conditioning going on your commute to work you should choose the SZ3 instead which comes with air-con to keep you nice and toasty!

Being savvy doesn’t always mean you have to shell out big bucks to get he perfect car. You may want to consider leasing the Suzuki Alto instead which usually works out much cheaper than purchasing the vehicle outright.

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It seems that 2013 is the year that Citroën wants to show off what they can do when it comes to style!

The car manufacturer has been around since the first World War and were the first car manufacturing company out side of the USA & UK.

The brand grew rapidly and in just 8 years it had became Europe’s largest car manufacturer and the fourth largest in the world! Get comfy, belt up and see if any of the 2013 Citroën’s appeal to you!

Citroën DS3 Cabrino

The Citroën DS3 Cabrino is an extension of the popular and cool DS3 but with a large sliding sun roof. It may not sound like much but it folds back in a mere 16 seconds.

This model may become even more popular than the DS3 hatchback as it will appeal to people who want all the benefits of a convertible but still want to keep as much room as possible. The Cabrino roof is also something which should be applauded.

The roof fabric also comes in three different colours for your to choose from.

Not only is the DS3 Cabrino an interesting take on bringing the outside in but it also offers 5 seats which is a rarity using in hatchbacks. Many hatch backs which have 5 seats are cramped but no, not the Cabrino!

All in all the Citroën DS3 is cool,cute and also offers great fuel econom, with a cool outer shell.

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