Test e-bike leasing with Eurorad premium: Velomotion has tried e-bike leasing with premium protection from Eurorad and explains the numerous advantages that leasing offers - especially in the attractive premium protection from Eurorad .
To say that leasing an e-bike is becoming increasingly popular would be a slight understatement. According to their own statements, large specialist bicycle dealers in the catchment area of larger medium-sized companies leased almost half of all e-bikes in 2018 instead of selling them in the classic way. The relatively new company bike privilege not only offers numerous advantages for the lessee - the employer also benefits from healthier, more active and more motivated employees who (re)discover cycling for themselves.
There are now a number of leasing providers who specialize in bicycles and especially e-bikes and at first glance there are no serious differences for either the employee or the employer. But the devil is in the details. Hardly any leasing provider publishes exact figures on the wheels actually leased. But the industry leader is probably Jobrad, which has managed to win many large companies and very large corporations as partners. As a provider, once you have set foot in the HR department, the employees from this company in the bike shop automatically become Jobrad customers. A performance comparison of the leasing providers hardly takes place anymore.
It's a shame, because there are certainly differences. The leasing provider Eurorad in particular can score with a number of advantages that no other company has in this combination in its range. For example, the premium offer from Eurorad includes service for e-bikes in accordance with the strict guidelines of the accident prevention regulations for employers or insurance cover for wearing parts from day one.
Velomotion took a closer look at the Eurorad offer and uses it to explain the most frequently asked questions about e-bike leasing.
10 questions about e-bike leasing: explained in a nutshell
Why should I lease an e-bike at all?
Because, all in all, it is the cheaper option to buy an e-bike – or even a “normal” bike. Employees can have the leasing rate credited against their gross salary for tax purposes and save in the process. It is particularly interesting that leasing automatically includes above-average insurance benefits. In the premium protection from Eurorad, even all wear and tear from the first day - without a deductible or the exclusion of minor damage. The costs for an extensive check in accordance with the accident prevention regulations (UVV) are also fully included. A service that many providers do not include at all or only up to a maximum amount.
Who can lease a bike?
Basically every employee or self-employed person. However, the possibility of leasing a company bike must be clarified with the employer and the human resources department. More companies are already working with e-bike leasing providers than you would think.
Can I also use my leased bike privately?
Sure, of course! Strictly speaking, you don't have to cycle to work once. In return, the monetary benefit is taxed at a flat rate of one percent of the new price (one percent rule) on the monthly pay slip. This means that no logbook has to be kept and it is irrelevant how many trips are business or private.
And what does my employer get out of e-bike leasing?
First of all, it is very easy to implement. Health management, motivation and employee satisfaction are becoming increasingly important for employers. Eurorad offers its customers a central online administration tool for easy processing, which reduces the effort to a minimum. It is no longer necessary to obtain the employer's signature for each bike. This means that the leasing process, the selection of a bike and the calculation of the actual leasing rate can be completed in just a few minutes.
By reducing the gross salary to be taken into account, the employer also saves a small part of social security contributions, which definitely pays off over the three-year term. But the fact of having a happy employee is much more important: Studies, for example by the Hanover University of Applied Sciences, prove this. It is also obvious that those who do something for their health and the environment will be happier people. And the companies themselves will also benefit from the positive image in terms of their external impact. No wonder that e-bike leasing is very trendy!
Can I lease any model and also several e-bikes at the same time?
In principle, any bike is possible. With the exception of Eurorad, all major providers require a minimum value of 500 to 750 euros – as well as an upper price limit, which is 12000 euros for Eurorad. If the employer allows it, several bikes can be leased at the same time. But then one percent of the list price has to be taxed as a non-cash benefit for each one.
How long is the leasing period and what happens after the end of the contract?
Practically all bicycle leasing contracts from all providers on the market run for three years. The leasing contract must not explicitly provide for the e-bike to be taken over by the lessee at the end of the term; however, this is usually possible. Determining the residual value after three years is problematic. The tax authorities have been applying a residual value of 40 percent of the new price for a year now. A value that appears relatively high at first glance, resulting from the depreciation period of seven years. If a leasing provider now offers the customer a bike with a lower residual value, the difference to the 40 percent must be taxed. In practice, all leading providers assume this differential taxation at their own expense. Eurorad currently offers one of the best values here, applying 15 percent residual value and taxing the 25 percent difference themselves.
What happens if I quit the job before the lease expires?
The contractual partner of the leasing company is the employer. The bike and the leasing contract remain with the employer. However, employers and employees can regulate this differently in a user agreement. For example, the employer can make the company bike available to another colleague or use the bike for his company fleet. If the employer does not want to take it over, the new employer can also take over the existing contract.
What happens if something breaks on the leased bike?
The insurance as part of e-bike leasing is surprisingly extensive for practically all offers. These usually include maintenance and wear and tear – but there are important differences. With the premium protection, Eurorad offers full protection without excess and without limit for minor damage - and above all from the first day of use. Included are exactly the things that many e-bike buyers are afraid of: material and electronic defects, a defective battery, operating errors or defects caused by a fall. In addition, Eurorad has even integrated a pick-up service. This means: if the bike has a defect on the way, you can have a service vehicle take you back to the starting point.
Is my leased e-bike insured?
As a rule, the leasing contract includes basic insurance against theft. In addition, there is often protection against theft of parts such as the battery or display as well as against vandalism. In any case, the insurance cover is easier and, above all, cheaper than with a privately purchased e-bike. As the only provider known to us, Eurorad offers protection in accordance with the guidelines of the accident prevention regulations (UVV) of the German statutory accident insurance.
Can I lease accessories at the same time?
You can only lease what is permanently attached to the bike because it is considered part of the acquisition cost. This can be a special saddle or a basket, but not the helmet, clothing or bags. A replacement battery can even be leased from Eurorad, which is then insured against wear and tear, but logically only against theft if it was mounted on the bike. A lock is required by all leasing providers as the basis for insurance cover and can always be leased as well.
