Temporary car for a new employee: rental, lease or shortlease?
A new employee is about to start, but what do you do about their company car? They may still be in their probation period, have a temporary employment contract or be waiting for their permanent lease car. You want them to be mobile from day one, without committing to a long-term contract too soon. In this article, we compare car rental, traditional lease and shortlease for this temporary period.
Temporary mobility for a new employee
A new employee may need a car from their very first working day. At the same time, you may not yet know how long the car will be needed or which model will be the best fit in the long run.
In practice, there are several situations where a temporary car makes sense:
- Probation period: you do not want to commit to a long-term car contract yet.
- Temporary contract: the mobility solution needs to match a limited employment period.
- Waiting period: the permanent lease car has been ordered but is not available yet.
- New role: the employee’s actual mileage and car usage are not yet clear.
In these situations, the term of the car contract should match the employee’s actual mobility needs. Committing to a car for several years when you only need to bridge a few months is rarely the most logical option.
Car rental, shortlease or traditional lease: which option fits best?
The best option mainly depends on how long you need the car and how much flexibility you want to keep. Here are the main differences:
| Car rental | Shortlease | Traditional lease | |
| Best suited for | Short periods | Several months or longer | Long-term use |
| Term | Mainly days or weeks | From 1 month | Often several years |
| Flexibility | High | High | Lower |
| Long-term commitment | No | No | Yes |
| New employee | Suitable for very short-term use | Suitable for temporary or uncertain situations | Mainly suitable for long-term use |
In short: for a few days or weeks, car rental is often the logical choice. If you know the car will be needed for several years, a traditional lease may be a better fit. Shortlease provides a practical middle ground for the period in between.
Want to compare these three options in more detail? Our article about car rental, lease and shortlease explains the differences.
When does car rental make sense?
Car rental is particularly practical when an employee needs transport for a short and clearly defined period. For example, during their first few working days, for a short assignment or as temporary replacement transport.
If the employee needs the car for several months, it is worth looking at the costs and conditions again. A solution that works well for one week is not necessarily the best fit for three or six months.
When does a traditional lease make sense?
If you know that the employee will stay with the company for the longer term and will need a company car for several years, a traditional lease contract can make sense. You can choose a car for long-term use and set up the contract accordingly.
The longer contract also gives you less room to adapt when circumstances change. A traditional lease is therefore less suitable when you deliberately want to stay flexible during the employee’s first few months.
Why shortlease works well for a new employee
Shortlease fills the gap between short-term car rental and a long-term lease. With shortlease for businesses, you can arrange a car from just one month while keeping the freedom to reassess your mobility needs later.
This can be useful during a probation period or temporary employment contract. It also makes sense when the role is new and you cannot yet accurately estimate how many kilometres the employee will drive.
A temporary car while waiting for the permanent lease car
Has the employee’s permanent lease car already been ordered? Shortlease can be used as an interim car during the waiting period. The employee can start driving immediately and switch cars once the permanent vehicle becomes available.
This also means you do not have to base your long-term car choice solely on which models happen to be available immediately.
Find out what the employee actually needs
A temporary car gives you something else as well: practical information before making a long-term decision. You may find that a compact car offers plenty of space, that the employee drives considerably more kilometres than expected or that an electric car works particularly well for their daily journeys.
Tip: do not look only at the length of the employment contract. Expected mileage, the employee’s role and the arrival of a permanent lease car should all be considered when choosing the right contract term.
Which car should you choose for a new employee?
Not every job requires the same type of car. An employee who mainly attends meetings in the city will have different requirements from someone who drives long distances every day or needs to transport equipment.
Consider the following:
- Mileage: how many business and commuting kilometres do you expect?
- Usage: will the car mainly be used for city driving, motorway journeys or both?
- Space: will the employee need to carry colleagues, luggage or equipment?
- Appearance: which type of car fits the role and your company?
- Powertrain: does an electric, hybrid or petrol car make the most sense for the expected use?
Considering an electric car? Our guide to electric car shortlease explains what to consider before making your choice.
You can also browse our current range of shortlease cars to see which models are available.
Checklist: choosing the right temporary car
Before arranging a car, ask yourself:
- How long do you expect to need the car?
- Is the employee still in their probation period or on a temporary contract?
- How many kilometres will the employee drive each month?
- Will a permanent lease car arrive later?
- Which type of car suits the employee’s work?
- How important is the option to adjust the contract term?
If you cannot confidently answer the first three questions yet, flexibility is probably more important than immediately committing to a car for several years.
Arrange temporary transport for your new employee
A new employee should be able to get on with their job from day one. We can help you choose a car, contract term and mileage allowance that fit the role and the period for which the car is needed. Browse the available cars or contact us for advice about your situation.
Frequently asked questions about temporary cars for new employees
Yes, you can use shortlease during a new employee’s probation period. Because you do not immediately enter into a multi-year lease contract, you retain more flexibility during the first few months. Always check the minimum term and conditions of the specific shortlease contract.
Yes, shortlease can be a good fit for a temporary employment contract. It allows you to align the period for which you need the car more closely with the employee’s expected time with the company. Take possible changes or extensions to the employment contract into account when choosing the term.
At Enterprise Shortlease, a shortlease contract starts from one month. If you need the car for longer, you can extend the term. This makes shortlease suitable both for bridging a short period and for situations where you do not yet know exactly how long the car will be needed.
If the permanent lease car is not yet available, you can use shortlease as an interim solution. The employee has access to a car straight away and can switch once the permanent vehicle becomes available. This prevents the delivery time of a new car from delaying the employee’s mobility.
Business shortlease includes several fixed car costs in the monthly rate, such as maintenance, insurance and road tax. Fuel and charging costs are not normally included. Always check the exact costs and conditions in your specific quote.