Why we’re running it: To see if app-based subscription services can replace ownership as the future of motoring
Month 1 - Specs
Life with a monthly car subscription: Month 1
Signing up to On.To and welcoming the DS 3 to the fleet - 24 March 2021
It’s not just Netflix, Spotify and Amazon Prime any more. You can get a subscription service for just about anything, from flowers and coffee pods to bacon and crates of beer.
Can we now add cars to that growing list? I’m hoping to find out over the next few months with Onto, the UK’s first subscription car service to offer an entirely electric line-up.
Onto is an all-in-one offering, with a single monthly payment covering the hire cost of the car, along with fully comprehensive insurance, 24/7 roadside assistance, servicing, Polar Plus and Shell Recharge charging memberships, plus tyre wear and tear (although not punctures). All cars have a forward-facing dashcam, too.
Unlike with a traditional contract hire agreement, there’s no need to pay a deposit and the minimum contract length is just one month. There’s also no registration paperwork to worry about, and while mileage is limited to 1000 miles per month, you can pay more if you want to drive farther.
The sign-up process, which asks for your driving licence and credit card details, as well as a picture of you holding your licence, is done through your web browser and takes less than 10 minutes. It can then take up to two days for a human to authenticate your account, but after that, you’re good to go: pick a car, say when you want it and sign your contract. You’re kept informed via email at every step up to delivery day. Pre-pandemic, there was a collection service, but paying £50 for home delivery is now the way to go.
When the car arrives, you check it over for any damage and accept delivery digitally, much like you would do with any lease car. From then on, everything is done through Onto’s smartphone app. You don’t even get a car key; the app unlocks the doors. It also records where you’re parked, how much charge is remaining and how many miles you have left until the end of the month.
The fleet includes superminis like the Renault Zoe, which can be had from £339 per month, family cars such as the Hyundai Kona Electric and even premium models like the Tesla Model S, Jaguar I-Pace and Audi E-tron, the latter setting you back a significant £1299 per month.
We opted to start the test with a DS 3 Crossback E-Tense, for which Onto charges £529 per month. Leasing one would have cost us around £4000 upfront, then £375 a month for three years directly from the manufacturer. Does that represent good value for those who don’t want to be tied into a multi-year agreement? We have two months to find out before we swap it for a different model to try out the handover process.
Join the debate
Add your comment
The thing with leases is to look for what kind of car you want, maybe not the exact car, if you want a deal. Can get a Hyundai Ioniq for half of what this costs.
Flexibility is nice but not at that kind of premium
There's possibly a fair chunk of depreciation to factor in to the monthly fee?
Some things to factor in here. I found on Whatcar, that this car on a 48 month lease would be £380.38 a month, with a £2282.26 deposit. Over the 48 months (8000 miles p/a), it is a total of £20540.50, or the equivalent of £427.93 a month.
I have done an insurance quote on this car, for me, a 40 year old man, 2 years no claims, clean licence, no accidents, insured at my home in edinburgh and legal protection cover (I have had to use this in the past), that comes in at £401.50, or £33.46 a month.
I looked up break down cover and DS give electric cars 8 years or 100000 miles, so won't need that.
So far, I am up to £461.39 a month on a car, which is less than what this company are providing by £67.61 a month, but that doesn't factor in the amount to charge it.
All for a car that you can give back after 30 days notice rather being tied in to it for 4 years.
Other leasing websites list this car (not quite this spec) for £269.99 per month with £1818.84 down over 48m and 8k miles a year. Just over £14.5k for 4 years in that car. Actually a decent deal if you like the car
Have seen a few comments below with concerns about damage fees and also the lack of key. I'm a Onto customer and whilst I've heard about a few issues last year with return damage fees, I gather these have been pretty much resolved now as I think Onto have issued directions to the third party companies that deal with retuned cars to essentially not be so picky.
As for the lack of a key, some people find this to be a disadvantage but other actually quite like it. I'm one that likes it, as it just means there's one less thing to remember, put in your pocket etc. My phone is pretty much always in my hand when I get in or out the car as I then plug it in to charge and use Apple CarPlay. So it's actually quite convenient in my experience.
Anywya, I guess you only really know if you try it for yourself... and that's the best thing about this model of running a car - no commitment and no hassle. If anyone wants to give it a whirl for a month, you can get £50 off using this referral code: d55d6
Read the online reviews about Onto and see frequent complaints about excess termination charges for scratches and interior marks. One to test when the car is returned.
My thoughts too, stone chip on bonnet, kerbed wheel etc. Auto car should ask what the cost would be
Probably better not to damage the car in the first place, or at least be sensible and take out one of those excess cover policy things. You'd be crazy not to, and then you're covered for a year including the real problem... rental car companies abroad!!!
But overall I'd try not to damage the car in the first place.
Good idea, surprized no one ever thought of that afterall it is so easy to drive round flying stones on the motorway.
Sarcasm - smart. If I get stone chips on my car it's up to me to pay to repair them - you must be special. How do you feel about kerbed wheels? Is that an act of god too?
Like I said - take out an excess insurance policy if you can't aford to pay for your own damage. Accidents happen - that's what excess insurance is for - why would expect anyone else to pay for you?
Smart - yes. I dont take my car in for stone chips or car park dings repairs every 3 months, like you would with these short term hire plans. And remember they'll insist on main dealer prices.
xxxx sounds like this isn't for you then, as you damage cars regularly but don't want to pay. You should limit your observations to the facts instead of trying to put people off something that may work really well for them.
I'm on my 3rd Onto car. When they charged me for damage after my neighbour bumped my car it was was less than either of us expected - I'd call it trade prices. I'm curious to know how you know they insist on charging main dealer prices - more speculation on your part?