Bike leasing: Everything you need to know

Are you interested in leasing a bicycle or e-bike? Whether e-bike, racing bike, cargo bike or classic city bike – all types of bicycles available at Fitstore24 are suitable for bike leasing!

How bike leasing works: step by step

Thanks to bike leasing, employees have the opportunity to "rent" their desired bicycle or e-bike through their employer and also use it privately . It's very simple:

• The employer enters into a contract with a leasing provider.

• The employee selects their desired bicycle from a specialist retailer or online shop. As an Austrian e-bike specialist, Fitstore24 offers you a comprehensive selection of the most popular brands and models.

• The employer leases the bicycle and makes it available to the employee.

• The monthly lease payment is deducted from the employee's gross salary (salary conversion) or provided as an additional benefit.

• At the end of the lease term, the bike can be returned or purchased for its residual value.

The (e-)bike belongs to the leasing provider for the entire lease period. However, if you particularly enjoy your chosen bike , you can buy it at the end of the lease.

Employers can provide their employees with a company bicycle either through salary conversion or as a salary extra:

• Salary conversion: Salary conversion is the most popular model for company bike leasing. The employer provides the employee with the bike and, in return, retains a portion of the monthly gross salary equal to the lease payment. This even gives employees a tax advantage, as their taxable income is reduced by the amount of the lease payment.
• Salary perk: If the employer provides a company bicycle as a salary perk, they cover all the lease payments. In this case, the employee incurs no costs.
  

Bike leasing benefits both employees and employers.

Key benefits for employees

Employees can also use their brand-new dream bike for private purposes without incurring significant costs, as private use has been exempt from the benefit-in-kind tax since January 1, 2020.

• Tax savings: Salary conversion can result in savings of up to 40% compared to a direct purchase.
• Unrestricted private use: The company bike can be used for both professional and private purposes.
• Comprehensive insurance coverage: The leasing package includes protection against theft, accident damage and other services.

Key advantages for employers

Employers have also benefited since January 1, 2020, as company bicycles (bicycles and e-bikes with motor assistance of up to 25 km/h) have been eligible for input tax deduction since then.

• Increasing the company's attractiveness: Bike leasing can be offered as an attractive benefit for employees.
• Reduction of non-wage labor costs: Salary conversion reduces the employer's social security contributions.
• Low administrative effort: The leasing model requires only a one-time setup and is then usually handled automatically.

Self-employed? No problem!

With a registered business, you can lease a bicycle or e-bike through a leasing provider and claim the lease payments as a business expense for tax purposes . This applies to self-employed individuals, freelancers, and business owners alike.

How much does bike leasing cost?

With this handy bike leasing calculator, you can find out in just a few clicks how high your new net salary including the leasing rate will be.

What happens at the end of the bike lease?

Even at the end of the lease term, the bicycle belongs to the leasing company. As an employee, you can then decide whether you want to buy the bicycle for its residual value or return it.

Basic insurance is mandatory for bike leasing and is an integral part of the contract. The company bike is therefore generally protected against theft and damage (up to its original value). This means that the lessor, as the owner, assumes the risk for sudden and unforeseen damage or destruction to the leased item, e.g., in the event of:

• Theft, burglary or robbery
• operator errors
• Simple negligence
• Accident damage
• vandalism
• Design, material, or workmanship defects
• Overvoltage, induction, or implosion
• Storm, frost, ice drift, earthquake or flood
• Damage to motor or battery

The all-round protection package for bike leasing includes services for service and maintenance.

Optionally, the "Premium Plus" insurance package can be purchased with additional benefits (regarding wear parts).

Did you know? Accessories can also be leased.

You can include all accessories permanently attached to your bicycle or e-bike (used as a company bike) in the lease. Accessories up to 15% of the vehicle price can be included in the lease. Textile clothing is excluded.