Hippo Car Leasing Review: Pros, Cons & Features

Hippo Car Leasing operates from its UK HQ in the heart of Blackburn.

Hippo is a specialist credit broker, collaborating with an extensive panel of lenders. This means they have the flexibility to find bespoke options for their customer, even those with bad credit scores

With an impressive inventory spanning over 674 electric cars, Hippo Leasing offers a range of vehicles to cater for most individual and business needs. If you can’t find the car you want in their range they will try to source it exclusively for you.

Our Top EV Salary Sacrifice Scheme

• Free Ohme home charger
  
• 4,000 free miles of charging
  
• Intelligent Octopus EV tariff
  
• Public charging via Octopus Electroverse
  
• All EV's on the market
  
• Built-in early termination protection

CHECK ELIGIBILITY IN 90 SECONDSBEST SALARY SACRIFICE SCHEMES

Hippo Car Leasing Pros & Cons

We selected these pros and cons based on the criteria that Electric Car Guide customers identified as the most important to them in our focus group of EV owners. We also researched real-world customer reviews on Trustpilot (both positive and negative) and compared Hippo Leasing’s features with its nearest competitors.

Am I eligible for Hippo Car Leasing?

Here’s an overview of the eligibility requirements to lease a car with Hippo:

• Over 18’s only
  You must be at least 18 years old to enter into a leasing agreement with Hippo Leasing.
  
  
• Driving licence
  Many lenders prefer applicants to hold a full driving licence, it’s not a requirement for all vehicles. Hippo Leasing will work with provisional licences, allowing some applicants to lease a vehicle before they officially pass their driving test.
  
  
• Income and employment
  Full-time employment isn’t a strict requirement for leasing a car with Hippo. However, you need to show a consistent source of income or benefits.
  
  
• ID requirements
  The specific identification and documentation required for a leasing agreement with Hippo Leasing depend on your credit score. Generally, applicants should be prepared to show Hippo proof of residency, income or benefits, and identity. Common forms of ID include passports and driving licences.
  
  
• Eligibility checker
  If you’re uncertain about your eligibility, Hippo provides an easy-to-use eligibility checker. Not only is this tool straightforward and quick (taking just 2 minutes), but it also ensures:
  • No impact on your credit score when you use it.
  • Validity for 28 days, giving you ample time to decide without any purchase pressure.

Hippo Car Leasing features at a glance

Hippo Car Leasing full review

Hippo Leasing’s product is built on inclusivity and the belief that everyone deserves a chance to drive the car they want. Hippo has a low bar of eligibility, providing finance options to a diverse range of clients – from high-end options to those seeking budget-friendly EVs or people with bad credit.

Hippo Leasing’s expansive car range features both new and used cars. The company is able to tailor both business and personal lease contracts to the customer’s circumstances.

Hippo Car Leasing contract and early termination

The shortest lease term with Hippo Leasing is 12 months.

At Hippo Leasing, an early exit from your agreement means that you have to cover the payments for the entire lease term.

Hippo Car Leasing deposit requirements

Hippo has no deposit requirement, in fact at the start of your lease agreement you pay nothing for the first 30 days.

Hippo Car Leasing vehicle options

In terms of Electric only, Hippo currently has 674 EV models. In total Hippo offer an impressive lineup of 4408 models, there’s a car for every potential segment!

What’s included with Hippo Car Leasing?

Hippo’s standard lease is car-only. However, for those seeking added protection, ‘Hippo Protect’ is available as an add-on from £24.99/month.

This includes the Platinum Warranty, Breakdown Cover, Overnight Accommodation, Onward Travel, and even a Hire Car.

Can I purchase the car at the end of a Hippo Car Leasing contract?

There is no option to purchase the vehicle at the end of your agreement with Hippo.

Hippo Car Leasing customer support

There are 3 main ways to contact Hippo:

Direct phone line: 01254 956666.
Chat support: A responsive chat box, we had a positive interaction with Danielle.
Email support: [email protected].

Hippo Car Leasing lead time & delivery cost

72-hour delivery for in-stock vehicles plus delivery is free. Or if you need the car quicker, there’s an option to collect directly from their Blackburn hub.

Hippo Car Leasing Salary Sacrifice option

Hippo leasing offers one of the best electric car salary sacrifice schemes for businesses looking to unlock the tax benefits of an electric car salary sacrifice scheme.

How does it work?

1. Reach out to Hippo’s team. They will provide a detailed explanation and help you with the necessary paperwork.
   
   
2. Order and Delivery: After all terms are settled, employees can order their chosen vehicles, which will be delivered straight to the business address.
   
   
3. Savings: Both the employer and employees benefit from savings once the vehicles are in use.

Employees won’t face any upfront fees or credit checks with a Hippo leasing salary sacrifice.

The scheme includes a broad range of electric vehicles, and the package includes not just the vehicle but also servicing, maintenance, and breakdown cover.

Once the agreement term is complete, the process mirrors a standard business or personal contract hire. Employees return the vehicle, with no extra charges (assuming the contract’s terms were followed). The employer won’t have to worry about the vehicle’s next steps, unlike with a finance lease.

What Hippo Car Leasing does well

Options for bad credit
Hippo has made efforts to ensure that their lease deals are accessible to everyone, even those with bad credit. You can check your eligibility online quickly without impacting your credit score with Hippos eligibility checker.

Good variety of vehicles
There is a vast array of vehicle choices at Hippo Leasing. The range of over 4000 cars means you’re more likely to find the vehicle that matches your needs.

Salary Sacrifice option
Hippo provides a salary sacrifice option that helps reduce the costs of leasing. This feature allows deductions to be made from an employee’s pre-tax salary, leading to a potential salary sacrifice benefit of up to 60% tax & NI savings compared to regular personal lease costs.

Quick delivery
Hippo Leasing offers a 72-hour delivery service for vehicles that are in stock, you can get them quicker if you are prepared to collect from Hippos Blackburn HQ.

Where Hippo Car Leasing falls short

Early termination fees 
If a customer decides to terminate the lease early, they are responsible for the full term’s payments, which can be a very high cost.

No car purchase option
At the end of the lease term, there’s no option for customers to purchase the vehicle.

No EV charging benefits
Currently, Hippo Leasing does not offer any charging add-ons, which may be a drawback for electric vehicles. Providers such as Salsac, elmo & loveelectric all offer EV charging benefits for customers.

Limited add-ons
The standard lease comes with the car only, no charging perks or other add-ons such as insurance cover, with other protections and services available at an additional cost. This is pretty limited when compared with the best EV subscription services, subscriptions can offer a broader range of inclusions for customers who want to remove the admin involved in looking after the car.

What EVs does Hippo Car Leasing offer?

Hippo Leasing offers access to 674 electric vehicles, which is pretty much every EV on the UK market! Ranging from the Corsa-e to the Tesla Model 3 and Peugeot Partner Electric van.

How do I apply for Hippo Car Leasing?

1. Research & Selection
   Visit Hippo Leasing’s website and browse the available vehicles to find one you’re interested in leasing.
   
   
2. Eligibility check
   Use Hippo’s eligibility checker to see if you qualify for leasing. This check won’t impact your credit score and is valid for 28 days.
   
   
3. Complete application
   Work through the necessary paperwork and provide any required documents. The documentation may include proof of residency, identity (like a passport or driving licence), and evidence of a regular income or benefits. The specific documents that you need to provide will vary based on your credit score.
   
   Once you’ve submitted your application, Hippo will work with various lenders, especially if you have bad credit, to try and secure a lease agreement for you.
   
   
4. Finalise details & delivery
   Once approved, finalise any outstanding details of the lease agreement. Arrange for the vehicle’s delivery. Hippo offers a 72-hour delivery for in-stock cars. You can choose between free delivery or collect the car from their Blackburn hub.

The final word on Hippo Car Leasing

Hippo Leasing is a leasing solution for a broad range of customers. They will try and work with customers with varied financial backgrounds — a refreshing approach compared to other providers who enforce strict credit requirements. They have a strong breadth of vehicle options and an innovative Salary Sacrifice offering.

However, while their offerings are extensive, potential customers should always be clear about contract terms, especially in areas like early termination. Hippo charges the full term for an early termination.

Our Top EV Salary Sacrifice Scheme

• Free Ohme home charger
  
• 4,000 free miles of charging
  
• Intelligent Octopus EV tariff
  
• Public charging via Octopus Electroverse
  
• All EV's on the market
  
• Built-in early termination protection

CHECK ELIGIBILITY IN 90 SECONDSBEST SALARY SACRIFICE SCHEMES

Help if you’re struggling with debt from car subscriptions or leases

Late payments on car subscriptions or leases can lead to financial difficulties. If you find yourself struggling with debt from car subscriptions or leases, it is essential to seek professional guidance. Several debt advice services can help:

• StepChange: StepChange offers debt management plans tailored to your situation
• Citizens Advice: Offering free and confidential advice on managing debts.
• National Debtline: National Debtline is a helpline specifically designed to assist with personal debt, including car subscription or lease obligations.
• MoneyHelper (formerly The Money Advice Service): Providing tools and support to help you understand your options and make informed decisions.

Remember, the terms of car subscriptions and leases can vary significantly, so it’s really important to read and understand your specific agreements and obligations.

Hippo Car Leasing review methodology

At Electric Car Guide, our review of Hippo Car Leasing was conducted with impartiality and an in-depth understanding of what electric car users value. Here’s how we worked through our evaluation:

1. Customer Feedback from Electric Car Guide: We surveyed users from our EV focus group. These insights offered us a firsthand view of real-world experiences and car subscription expectations, allowing us to frame our review around actual user needs and preferences.
   
   
2. Reviews: We took into account both positive and negative reviews from Trustpilot. This provided a balanced perspective, acknowledging the praises and criticisms Hippo Car Leasing has received from a diverse range of customers.
   
   
3. Comparison with Competitors: We compared Hippo Car Leasing’s features, offerings, and customer experience against their nearest competitors in the electric car subscription market. This enabled us to gauge Hippo Car Leasing’s standing in the industry, highlighting its strengths and areas for improvement.

John Ellmore

John is the Editor and Spokesperson for Electric Car Guide.

With over 20 years of writing experience, he has written for titles such as City AM, FE News and NerdWallet.com, covering various automotive and personal finance topics.

John’s market commentary has been covered by the likes of The Express, The Independent, Yahoo Finance and The Evening Standard.