Cinelli und Simplon Rennräder beim Radhändler
Cinelli und Simplon Rennräder beim Radhändler

Keep or return your company bike?

What to do at the end of the lease term, return of bike, etc.

  • Company bike options after 3 years

  • Retention & return procedures

  • What happens upon termination, etc.

  • Follow-on leasing: new company bike, same benefits

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Company bike leasing: What happens once the last monthly lease payment has been made?

Riding a company bike is a healthy, eco-friendly and – thanks to salary conversion – a particularly low-cost way to be mobile. Bikeleasing-Service makes it very easy for you to get your own company bike. But what happens at the end of the lease term?

Read on to find out what options you have at the end of the Lease Agreement term and why follow-on leasing pays off for you.

What you should know about the end of the lease term

Takeover offer at the end of the lease term 

In Germany, the usual contractual term for a company bike lease is 36 months, i.e., three years. After that, the Lease Agreement expires automatically. Around twelve weeks before this happens, we from Bikeleasing-Service will contact you by e-mail and we will usually make you a takeover offer.
 

 Your options at the end of the lease term

You have two options to choose from: Firstly, you may accept our takeover offer and keep the company bike. Secondly, you are free to return the bike if you do not wish to use it any longer. Regardless of which option you choose, you have the opportunity to finance your next dream bike through company bike leasing.

Compelling reasons for follow-on leasing
Radfahrer und Radfahrerin in Leipzig

Keeping your bike after the 3-year lease term

In the past three years, your company bike has become a faithful friend. If you want to keep riding it, follow this straightforward takeover procedure:

Log in to the Bikeleasing portal

To log in, enter your personal Bikeleasing user ID in the Bikeleasing portal and select the “Employee” profile.

Select the applicable contractual options

On the start page, click on the expiring agreement. Under “Options,” select “Bike takeover decision at end of lease term.”

Purchase offer, address entry and SEPA mandate

When we have sent you a purchase offer for your company bike and you wish to accept the offer, simply select the applicable option and follow the instruction in the portal.

Done!

When you have completed the above steps, you are free to continue using your company bike after the end of the lease term. The takeover price (including VAT) will automatically be deducted from your account.

Worth knowing if you decide to keep your bike

Residual value = takeover price?

For company bikes, the residual value and the takeover price are not the same. While the tax office assumes a residual value of 40% of the RRP after the end of the three-year lease term, we can usually offer you the company bike at a takeover price (some call it a redemption fee) of only 18% of the RRP.

For legal reasons, we can send you a binding purchase offer only briefly before the end of the lease term.

Tax upon takeover 

Bikeleasing-Service generally gives you the opportunity to retain your company bike at a takeover price that is significantly lower than the residual value assumed by the tax authorities.

The difference between this residual value and the actual takeover price is considered a monetary benefit that is subject to taxation. We from Bikeleasing-Service will take care of this, so that the takeover of the company bike will remain tax-free for you as an employee.

Goodbye, company bike – how to return your company bike

If you decide not to keep your company bike at the end of the three-year lease term – because your requirements have changed or you prefer to ride a newer model in the future – simply follow this return procedure:

Log in to the Bikeleasing portal

To log in, enter your personal Bikeleasing user ID in the Bikeleasing portal and select the “Employee” profile.

Select the applicable contractual options

On the start page, click on the expiring agreement. Under “Options,” select “Bike takeover decision at end of lease term.”

Return procedure

If you reject the takeover option, you will receive a return confirmation. Return your bike, complete with any accessories included in the lease, to your Bikeleasing partner dealership.

Online trade

Company bikes obtained from online dealers will be collected by a logistics partner at your place. You need to pack the bike to be collected, complete with any accessories included in the lease, in a suitable shipping box (cardboard).

May the company bike show signs of wear and tear when returned?

When handed back, the company bike needs to be in proper condition. Please report any existing flaws or damage to Bikeleasing-Service via our portal by the end of the lease term. Normal wear and tear are no issue when you return the bike; after all, it’s a used item.

Worth knowing when you return your company bike

Radhändler mit Kundin und Kunde
Where do I return my company bike?

On location at partner dealership
Usually, you should return your company bike to the Bikeleasing partnership where you collected it at the beginning of the lease. We will send you a return confirmation by e-mail once you have turned down the takeover offer.

Online dealers
Bikes obtained from online dealers will be collected by a logistics partner (commissioned by us) at your place. We will provide a shipping label for collection. You will need to pack the bike in a suitable shipping box. Therefore, it would be a good idea for you to keep the original shipping carton (cardboard box in which the bike was delivered) until the end of the lease term.

Händler und Kunde im Radgeschäft
What do I have to bear in mind when returning the bike?

Traces of wear and tear are ok
We are happy to see that you used your bike on a regular basis. That’s why your bike does not need to look brand-new after the 36-month lease term. Scratches in the paintwork and fair wear and tear are no issue when you return it. However, any major damage means that the bike fails to comply with the “proper and safe operating condition” clause. You as an employee will need to bear the costs of any necessary repairs – unless such damage is covered by the insurance.

Accessories
When returning the bike, make sure that all accessories included in the lease are present – but no additional accessories. Any accessories purchased at a later stage cannot be returned.

Good to know: second lease of life for returned company bikes

What happens to bikes returned at the end of the lease?

You may ask yourself what happens to your company bike after you have returned it to your Bikeleasing parter dealership at the end of the lease term.

We have developed a sustainable solution for lease returns that are not taken over: In keeping with the motto ‘Good bikes move on,’ pre-owned company bikes are professionally refurbished by our subsidiary Bike2future, thus giving them a new lease of life as premium used bikes.

Discover Bike2future

Premature termination of lease

Trek E-Bike neben Kanal bei Nacht

Termination of lease in case of resignation, dismissal, etc.

Company bike leasing is designed for a lease term of three years. There is generally no provision for premature termination of the lease. However, we understand that that not everything always goes as planned. That’s why our Bikeleasing employer indemnity insurance is automatically bundled in with each lease. This insurance provides coverage in cases such as an employment relationship that is discontinued prior to the end of the contractually agreed lease term. For further information, check our blog on Termination/dismissal, disability for work, severance, death.

Follow-on lease – your next company bike is waiting for you

For good reason: leasing after the lease

Whether you take over your company bike after the three-year lease term or decide to return it – Bikeleasing-Service makes it very easy for you to commence the next lease. And there are plenty of good reasons for doing so: Chances are that, while riding your current company bike, you noticed that a better gear shift system would have been a good idea, or your situation and needs have changed such that a cargo bike will suit you better than a mountain bike. For all those who like to keep up with the times in terms of bikes, a follow-on lease after three years is the ideal opportunity to purchase a state-of-the-art bike at great conditions.

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Mountainbike Federgabel und Bremsscheibe mit DT Swiss Nabe

Reap the Bikeleasing benefits in your follow-on lease

Save costs

By way of salary conversion, follow-on leasing again delivers savings of up to 40% compared to a classic new purchase.

Peace of mind

New company bike, proven protection for theft, accident, etc., plus optional coverage for wear and tear.

Huge selection

Switch from a road bike to a mountain bike or a folding bike? Our partner dealers will have your next dream bike in store – on-site or online.

Online convenience

Manage your agreement, report damage or book a service appointment: You can do all of this for your follow-on lease with online convenience via our portal.

Prerequisites for a follow-on lease

As a matter of principle, the lease after the lease is subject to the same conditions that applied to your first company bike. One requirement is that your employer offers company bike leasing as a benefit to you. Another requirement for the follow-on lease is that your employment relationship is likely to continue for at least the duration of the 36-month lease term. If this is not the case – for instance, because you are about to retire, are still in training, have already given notice or are employed on a fixed-term contract – company bike leasing may not be an option.

Also, if you are still in your probationary period, working on a temporary basis or as a mini- or midi-jobber, you may not be eligible for company bike leasing. If in doubt, ask your employer what rules apply in the company.

FAQ zum Leasingende