THE NEW DRIVERS OF LEASE CARS: AN EMPIRICAL INVESTIGATION AMONG PERSONS WHO HAVE RECENTLY OBTAINED A LEASE CAR FOR THE FIRST TIME

This paper describes an investigation carried out among more than 350 lease car drivers in the Netherlands. The study investigastes: (1) personal characteristics; (2) choice of car type; (3) mobility characteristics; and (4) assessment of the lease company. The research was focused on the group of employees who used to own a private car, but have recently acquired a lease car. The lease car driver is (i) almost always a man, (ii) has a higher-than-average educational background, (iii) works full- time, (iv) is married or living together, and (v) often has an executive post. A lease car is usually a large medium-priced car. The annual mileage tends to be high: more than 38,000 kilometres (23,750 miles). Three-quarters of the lease car drivers use their cars daily for business purposes. Lease cars are used for business travel (47%), commuting (25%) and private purposes (28%).On average, the respondents now drive a larger car than when they had a car of their own. The shift to a lease car corresponds with an increase in annual mileage of some 4% (about 1,500 kilometres per year). In addition, a second car ownership increases considerably among the new lease car drivers by more than 10%.