Alphabet Motion: Personal Contract Hire (PCH) FAQs

Personal Contract Hire (PCH) is a finance option available to individuals, rather than businesses. It gives you flexibility to be able to choose your perfect vehicle, configure your contract to suit your needs and means you can enjoy the luxury of a brand new vehicle. 

First, you can configure the contract mileage to how regularly you’ll be using the vehicle and then configure the contract term to how long you would like it for, so you can get the best solution for your requirements. The initial rental and fixed monthly rentals are set out, so you’re completely aware of your outgoings.

At the end of the PCH agreement, you can simply give the vehicle back or choose another brand new vehicle to lease with us.

• Fixed monthly rentals, so you always know where you stand.
• Delivery of your new vehicle straight to your door.
• Option to include maintenance within your contract to avoid unforeseen costs.
• Choose from a range of manufacturers and models, to ensure you find the perfect vehicle. 
• Configure your contract to suit, including duration, mileage and optional extras.
• Road Fund Licence (RFL) included. 
• No depreciation or resale concerns, as you simply hand your vehicle back to us at the end of your contract.

An initial rental and monthly rentals are payments that you will make as part of your Personal Contract Hire (PCH) finance agreement with Alphabet.

At the beginning of your contract, you will be required to pay an initial rental. This payment is designed to make your monthly rentals more affordable. The overall cost of your lease remains the same, but the way in which you choose to break it up, is up to you.

The amount you choose to pay as an initial rental will be taken off the total cost of your lease. The remaining balance of your lease, will be distributed equally into monthly rentals, until the end of your contract.

In general, the larger your initial rental, the lower your monthly rentals and vice versa.

You might think that because Alphabet’s vehicles are brand new, that they won’t need any TLC. Well, in fact every vehicle, whether it’s just been driven off the forecourt or is ten years old, needs attention of some sort. That’s why adding maintenance into your contract gives you extra peace of mind. 

Keeping your vehicle on the road can take time and specialist experience. Maintenance will cover unforeseen costs such as replacement tyres, brake pads and discs and other repairs.

Benefits of adding maintenance to your Alphabet PCH contract:

• Budget with confidence - fixed costs for regular servicing and repair or maintenance 
• Fair usage tyre replacements and puncture repairs
• Roadside assistance
• MOTs as and when you require them
• Support from our qualified team via our 24/7 helpline, online and via the Alphabet app

We give our customers the freedom to choose to include maintenance within their contract or not, because we understand that every individual has different needs. If you feel you could benefit from adding maintenance into your contract, simply select to add maintenance to your contract when you are configuring your quote.

Yes, your Personal Contract Hire lease will include the payment of the Road Fund Licence on your vehicle. This is sometimes referred to as vehicle tax. 

Alphabet will remain the registered owner of the vehicle throughout the contract duration, so it is our responsibility to keep the vehicle tax up-to-date. 

Yes, you must take out and maintain comprehensive insurance for the vehicle (in your name) for the duration of the agreement and inform the insurance company that Alphabet is the owner of the vehicle. 

If the vehicle suffers any damage, you must arrange for the vehicle to be repaired and pay for any repairs not covered by your insurance policy. 

Please note, if you require your vehicle for business purposes, you will need to stipulate this within your insurance policy. 

Once you have placed your order, there is no guarantee that you will be able to amend it. Alphabet will make reasonable efforts to accommodate any changes within the first few weeks. However, you will be liable for any costs incurred as a result.

The quotation will be honoured by Alphabet for 4 months once the order has been placed. However, this is subject to manufacturer price increases and changes in legislation, for example, Road Fund Licence increases (otherwise known as vehicle tax) or VAT inflation.

Alphabet will let you know in plenty of time if there are any changes to the monthly payments.

The quotations will be valid for a period of 30 days. Please note, should there be a manufacturer price increase during this time, Alphabet will be in contact with you to discuss this change. We will always strive to gain price protection on vehicles ordered.

The supplying dealer will contact you when your vehicle has been built, to arrange delivery at a convenient time and location. 

We need to receive your signed Personal Contract Hire Agreement and the 14 day right to withdraw period must have elapsed, before delivery can take place.

You will need to arrange for your vehicle to be serviced in line with the manufacturer's recommended servicing schedule.

If you have selected maintenance as part of your agreement, you can book your vehicle in for a service online or call the service booking team on 0370 5050 135. 

You are responsible for ensuring that the manufacturer's recommended servicing schedule is adhered to. It is imperative that you do so, to ensure the warranty is not invalidated and to avoid incurring an additional charge.

If you have selected maintenance as part of your agreement, the cost of tyres is included within fair wear and tear standards. You can book your vehicle in for tyres online or call 03700 120 303.

If you have decided to maintain your vehicle yourself, you are responsible for ensuring that your tyres remain roadworthy and should arrange to have them repaired or replaced at your own cost.

All vehicles include UK and European roadside assistance, so whether you breakdown at home, at the office or anywhere in Europe, you are covered. 

If this happens, please call 03700 120 303, Option 1.

You should have your vehicle repaired under your own motor insurance policy, or that of the third party who caused the damage, before returning it to Alphabet at the end of your contract. 

All repairs should be carried out promptly by a servicing and repair agent approved by your insurer. You must make us aware of any accidental damage that has been repaired during your agreement.

If there is unrepaired damage when your vehicle is returned, you will be invoiced for the cost of these repairs. This invoice will be collected by Direct Debit.

Yes, your vehicle can be taken abroad for a period up to 30 days, but you must notify Alphabet in advance, to obtain the necessary documentation. You will require a VE103 certificate which we are happy to supply at a small cost. 

Please book and pay for your Travel Abroad documents using our secure online portal at least 2 weeks before your intended date of travel.

It is essential that you inform Alphabet when you change address, as important documentation will automatically be sent to the address we have on file. It will be your responsibility, if such documentation is lost, as a result of your not informing Alphabet of your change of address. 

If your vehicle is confirmed stolen or written off, you must ensure that any money you receive from your motor insurance policy is used to repay the outstanding balance of your Alphabet agreement. You will be liable for any remaining shortfall including the final instalment.

If you have chosen to take maintenance with Alphabet, the cost of an MOT test is included within your 4 year agreement. Alphabet will notify you one month in advance, for you to arrange the MOT test.

If you need to terminate your contract with Alphabet early, you can do so but this may be subject to an Early Termination Charge.

For more information, please email your vehicle registration, current mileage and reason for early termination to calculations@alphabet.co.uk.

Three to six months before the end of your agreement, Alphabet will send you information regarding the close of your agreement. 

At the end of the agreement, you must return the vehicle to Alphabet, subject to your compliance with the agreement and meeting required return standards. You can purchase a new vehicle if you choose to, and the option to re-order will be presented to you during this closing stage of the agreement.

Providing you have covered no more than the total agreed mileage and met the required return standards, you will have nothing further to pay.

You may be entitled to reschedule your mileage or contract term if your circumstances change. If you go over the contracted mileage you will incur an excess mileage charge. This charge is vehicle specific and details of the charge is set out in your quote and contract.

If you are interested in altering your mileage if you think you will go over mileage, please share your current mileage and your new required total contract mileage with us. If you want to change your contract term, then please share information about your current contract term and your new desired contract term. 

The email address to use for this is accepted.reschedules@alphabet.co.uk.

You must provide notice in writing of your intention to return your vehicle back to Alphabet, as well as providing details of your preferred return location and date. 

Additional charges may be incurred for excess mileage or damage to the vehicle that falls outside of fair wear and tear guidelines. Additional charges will be collected from your bank account by Direct Debit. The full conditions and costs are documented within your agreement.

If you choose to return your vehicle back to Alphabet and would like to arrange collection for this, please complete the following form to submit a request to our team. 

We will be happy to arrange for one of our approved agents to collect and inspect the vehicle, at either your home or work address. Please note, we must be given at least one week’s notice of this request.

BVRLA definition: Fair wear and tear occurs when normal usage causes deterioration to a vehicle. It is not to be confused with damage which occurs as a result of a specific event or series of events such as impact, inappropriate stowing of items, harsh-treatment, negligent acts or omissions.

Check here for the BVLRA Industry Standard Fair Wear and Tear Guidelines for cars and LCVs.

When you return your vehicle to us at the end of its lease period, we need to make sure it's not damaged and is in a reasonable condition.

We suggest you check your vehicle for damage at least 10 weeks prior to returning it, to ensure you have sufficient time to rectify any faults that fall outside the industry standard, the BVRLA Fair Wear and Tear Guide.

Should your vehicle have any damage, you will need to organise the repair under your motor insurance policy before returning it to Alphabet. Any damage found to be outside of the approved BVRLA Fair Wear and Tear Guidelines will be noted and a charge may be applied for any repair costs that are necessary.