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History

Our 50+ years of experience make Lex the vehicle leasing experts.


From the beginnings of our contract hire business in 1959, Lex has grown to become the largest vehicle leasing company in the UK.

Our long history has given us the experience to provide fleet management and vehicle leasing services tailored to the real needs of businesses and drivers. Here are some of our historical highlights.

2000s 1990s 1980s 1970s, 60s and 50s

2000s

2007: We’re the best – it’s official
We win best Leasing Company and Best Fleet Management Awards from Business Car Magazine. See more of our awards

We also merge with Bank of Scotland Vehicle Finance, the leasing arm of HBOS. Our fleet grows to over 250,000 vehicles.

2006: HBOS takes ownership
Full ownership of Lex Vehicle Leasing passes to HBOS from Aviva.

2005: Lex becomes the biggest
Our fleet increases to 170,000 when we sign the HSBC Vehicle Finance Contract, making us the largest vehicle leasing company in the UK.

2004: High profile signings
We sign up high-profile fleets including Yell and the Forestry Commission. Plus, we continue to take the lead on major fleet issues including congestion charging.

2003: Lex profits soar
In February, we record a pre-tax profit of £38.2m – a 12% increase on the previous year. The secrets of our success? Investment in our IT systems, the continuing financial rewards of our Six Sigma process improvement programme and the roll-out of The Academy, a training programme for Lex employees.

2002: Our first Rough Guide
Customers are at the heart of everything we do – and in 2002 we invest in a new programme to improve our customer service.

2002 is also a literary year for Lex: we team up with the Rough Guide to publish The Rough Guide to Company Cars for the first time. Plus we launch the Young Motoring Writer of the Year award with the Daily Telegraph.

2001: The Lex calculator goes live
We launch the definitive online car tax calculator

2000: Ministry of Defence chooses Lex
Nearly 10,000 non-combat vehicles are put under our care when we win the fleet management contract for the Ministry of Defence White Fleet.

1990s

1999: Name change
Lombard Contract hire changes its name to Lex Vehicle Partners. We also invest £12m in our IT systems in 1999 and 2000.

1998: Environmental recognition
Halifax plc and RAC sign a 50/50 agreement for Lex Vehicle Leasing, assuring the company of long-term funding and new opportunities to grow. Our commitment to resource management is recognised when Lex Vehicle Leasing is awarded the environment certificate ISO14001. We also win the highly coveted title of Best Contract hire Company. See more of our awards

1996: RAF chooses Lex
We win the contract to supply 3,000 vehicles on contract to the Royal Air Force. It’s Lex Vehicle Leasing’s biggest ever contract so far.

1994: Driver phone service launched
Lex launches our one stop shop telephone service for company car drivers, OneCall

1980s

1989: Best company award for Lex
It’s official – we win the Best Contract hire Company in the UK at the inaugural Fleet News Awards. See more of our awards

We also launch the UK’s first free accident management service.

1988: Lex Vehicle Leasing buys Fleetdrive
We buy the public sector contract hire company, which runs around 3,000 vehicles. This was the last acquisition Lex Vehicle Leasing made: since then, unlike other major contract hire companies, Lex has grown organically.

1983: Lex Vehicle Leasing sets up Lombard Contract hire
The new branch of the company sells contract hire through dealers to small businesses.

1980: We set up a joint venture with Lombard North Central
Lombard provides the funds to grow the business and Lex provides the management expertise.

1970s, 60s and 50s

1972: We change our name
From Lex Service to Lex Vehicle Leasing.

1969: Lex Service acquires Controlled Cost Motoring.

1959: Lex Service acquires British Colonial Motors
Inside the company, which was the UK importer for Chevrolet and Pontiac, was a small business that had developed a new service called contract hire