PCH = a long-term rental of a new car for individuals. Fixed monthly rental, fixed term (usually 36 months), fixed mileage allowance, hand it back at the end. No deposit (just a small initial rental), no balloon, no ownership. Typical 2026 monthly: small hatch €280–€380, mid-size €380–€500, SUV €450–€650, EV €450–€700, premium €600–€900+. Fully maintained bundles servicing + tyres + breakdown; you always arrange your own insurance. Excess mileage 5–10c/km. Best if you change car every few years and want a predictable all-in monthly figure. Want to own at the end instead? PCH vs PCP or our car finance guide.
What PCH is
Personal Contract Hire — also called personal leasing — is a contract to use a brand-new car for a fixed period in exchange for fixed monthly payments. You never own the vehicle; you are effectively renting it long-term from a leasing company (the lessor). At the end of the term you return it in fair-wear-and-tear condition and walk away, or start a fresh lease on a new car.
PCH is the individual-driver version of the operating lease businesses use. If you run a company or are self-employed and want the tax treatment, read our business car leasing guide instead — PCH itself carries no tax benefit because it is a personal expense.
How PCH works, step by step
- Choose the car, term and mileage. Term is usually 24, 36 or 48 months; mileage allowance 12,000–25,000 km/year. Lower mileage and shorter terms change the monthly.
- Agree an initial rental. Typically one, three or nine months' rental up front. A bigger initial rental lowers the monthly cost.
- Pass a credit check. PCH is a credit agreement, so the lessor checks your repayment history and income.
- Pay the fixed monthly rental for the full term — same amount every month.
- Arrange your own insurance and tax the car (unless first-year motor tax is included).
- Return the car at the end in fair-wear-and-tear condition, settling any excess-mileage or damage charges.
Three years is the most common Irish PCH term — long enough to spread the cost, short enough to stay flexible and within the manufacturer warranty. Take a 48-month term only if you are confident the car and mileage will still suit you in four years; early exit is costly.
Initial rental and monthly cost
PCH does not use a percentage deposit. Instead you choose an initial rental — a multiple of the monthly figure paid up front — which sets your ongoing monthly cost. Indicative 2026 ranges for a 36-month / 15,000 km-per-year fully-maintained deal:
| Segment | Example models | Typical monthly (PCH) |
|---|---|---|
| Small hatch | Polo, Fiesta, Yaris, i20 | €280–€380 |
| Mid-size | Octavia, Golf, Corolla, Focus | €380–€500 |
| SUV | Tucson, Sportage, Tiguan, Qashqai | €450–€650 |
| EV | Kona Electric, Ioniq 5, ID.4, MG4 | €450–€700 |
| Premium | 3 Series, A4, C-Class | €600–€900+ |
These are indicative Irish-market figures and vary by lessor, configuration, term, mileage and time of year. Always quote at least three providers — independent lessors and manufacturer-captive offers (VW Financial Services, BMW, Toyota Financial Services) can differ by hundreds of euro a year on the same car.
Fully maintained vs rental-only
Most Irish PCH deals come in two flavours. A rental-only lease is cheaper monthly but you pay for servicing and maintenance yourself. A fully-maintained lease bundles those costs in for roughly €40–€100 extra per month.
| Item | Fully maintained | Rental only |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled servicing | Included | You pay |
| Maintenance & parts (pads, wipers, filters) | Included | You pay |
| Tyres | Often included | You pay |
| Breakdown cover | Usually included | You arrange |
| Insurance | You arrange | You arrange |
| Fuel / electricity, tolls, fines | You pay | You pay |
"Fully maintained" means different things between lessors — always read the specific schedule. Note that insurance is never included in a PCH; you take out your own policy.
Mileage allowance and excess charges
Your monthly rental is priced against an agreed annual mileage. Drive more and you pay an excess-kilometre charge at the end, typically 5–10c/km depending on lessor and vehicle. Be realistic up front:
- Estimate honestly. Under-declaring to lower the monthly just defers the cost to a bigger excess bill at hand-back.
- Amend mid-term if needed. If you can see you will overshoot, ask to move to a higher mileage band — usually cheaper than the excess rate.
- Track your km from day one. Knowing where you stand against the allowance avoids a nasty surprise at the end.
Insurance and running costs
Because you do not own the car, the lessor will require comprehensive insurance for the full term, and may ask to be noted as the registered owner/interested party on the policy. Budget for this separately — see our car insurance guide for how to cut the premium, and our cost of running a car guide for the full monthly picture including fuel, tolls and tax.
Eligibility and credit
PCH is a regulated credit agreement, so approval depends on a credit check. Lessors typically look for a clean repayment record, stable income, and Irish address history. You generally need to be over 18 (often 21+ for premium cars) and hold a full driving licence. A poor credit history can mean a higher rental or refusal; a larger initial rental sometimes helps.
End of lease — wear, tear and hand-back
At the end of the term the car is inspected against the BVRLA Fair Wear and Tear standard — the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association guide that Irish lessors use as the benchmark. Light scuffs and normal interior wear are acceptable; alloy kerb damage beyond a threshold, dents over a set size, deep scratches and interior tears are chargeable.
- Arrange a pre-end inspection about 30 days before return so you can fix chargeable items more cheaply than the lessor would (a local alloy refurb is far cheaper than the lessor's charge).
- Keep the service record clean — gaps in stamped servicing can be a chargeable item.
- Have both keys, the handbook and any accessories ready for hand-back.
PCH pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Lower monthly than PCP/HP for the same car | You never own the car — no equity |
| No deposit, just a small initial rental | Strict mileage limit + excess charges |
| Predictable all-in cost (maintained deals) | No modifications allowed |
| Always a new car under warranty | Costly early-termination penalties |
| No depreciation or resale risk | Fair-wear-and-tear charges at hand-back |
If you want to own the car at the end, compare against PCP and weigh leasing against buying outright in our lease vs buy guide.
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