All You Need to Know About a Factory Order Lease Car

If it’s your first time leasing a car, you might have come across terms like factory order, made to order lease car or build week and wondered what they actually mean. 

Put simply, a factory order lease car is built to your chosen specification, rather than being picked from existing stock. That usually means more choice, but also a longer wait time compared to an in-stock car.

In this guide, we’ll explain what a factory order lease car is, how long a factory order typically takes, what a build week means, and why some lead times are longer than others. We discuss: 

A factory order is a car that is built to a customer’s exact specifications. It's a specific type of order where the customer’s requirements are passed on to the factory. It means: 

• The car hasn't been built yet. 
• Your order is sent to the manufacturer's factory, where the car will be built.
• You can choose from a wider range of colours, trims, engines and options than you'd find on a typical in-stock car.

This is different from the usual method of ordering a ‘stock’ car from a manufacturer, where the manufacturer produces popular car variants based on past and predicted needs. If you order a stock car, it’s ready to go much earlier than a factory order. 

A factory order lease car is ideal if: 

• You have a clear wish list, for example, a specific colour, design, or option pack.
• You're happy to plan ahead and wait a bit longer for delivery. 
• The car needs to meet a certain level or spec or image, such as for an employee. 

As mentioned above, a factory order takes much longer than a stock car to be delivered. The reason for this? Simply because a factory order car hasn’t been built yet. 

In times gone by, a rule of thumb was that a factory order would roughly take around 12 weeks to be delivered. However, thanks to logistical changes in recent years, there’s no real ballpark figure to go on. 

Timings depend on: 

• The make and model 
• Fuel type (petrol, diesel, hybrid, electric) 
• Factory capacity and parts availability 
• Overall demand for that vehicle 

For more detail, take a look at our Understanding Lead Times guide, or speak to one of our expert leasing consultants on 0345 811 9595.

Your build week is the week the manufacturer is currently planning to start building your car. It's assigned once the factory has accepted the order and slotted it into their production schedule. 

A few important points to note: 

• A build week is an estimate, not a guaranteed date. 
• It can move forward or backward depending on parts, demand and factory planning. 
• Once your build week has passed, your car will move into the delivery and shipping stages. 

Unfortunately, there’s no universal lead time for factory order lease cars. Some vehicles move through the process quite quickly, while others take much longer. A few key factors influence this:

1. Adjustments to production - Manufacturers regularly review their production plans, increasing or reducing output of certain models. Any changes to the schedule can have a knock-on effect on lead times.
2. Parts and semiconductor shortages - Modern cars rely on complex electronics and components. If there’s a shortage of chips or key parts, factories may have to slow production or prioritise certain models, which extends lead times.
3. Model popularity - If a particular model is in high demand, orders can quickly stack up and outstrip production capacity. This naturally pushes lead times back, especially for popular specs or new releases.
4. Fuel type - Manufacturers have different production capabilities for petrol, diesel, hybrid and electric vehicles. Some engine types or battery configurations may be built more frequently than others, which can make them quicker (or slower) to arrive.
5. Weather or shipping delays - Even after your car has been built, it still needs to travel from the factory to a port, onto a ship and then to the UK. Bad weather, port congestion or transport issues can all delay that final leg of the journey.

To make the process less mysterious, here's what typically happens once you've decided to go ahead with a factory order lease car:

• Week 1 - Order placed with dealer/leasing company, who then orders it from the factory.
• Week 2 - Order slot is confirmed with the factory. 
• Week 3 - Waiting for a build slot.
• Week 4 - Waiting for a build slot.
• Week 5 - Vehicle put into production. 
• Week 6 - Vehicle comes out of production (depending on future driver/owner specifications). 
• Week 7 - Vehicle transported to a holding yard near the dock. 
• Week 8 - Awaiting boat to be loaded. 
• Week 9 - Vehicle transported from the country of production to the UK. 
• Week 10 - Vehicle arrives in the UK and placed in a holding yard.
• Week 11 - Vehicle transported to a local dealer. 
• Week 12 - Vehicle then has an all-over valet and Pre-Delivery Inspection before being delivered (or collected) by the new driver/owner. 

NOTE: This is just an estimate. The exact times may be subject to change. 

As always, what you go for depends on personal preference. Here’s a quick comparison to help:

Not always. It depends on the circumstances. Manufacturers may offer good deals on factory orders that might not be available on stock vehicles. However, the more options you add to a factory order, the more the price goes up. 

That said, stock cars offer incredible value. In some cases, you might find a stock car with a similar spec at a lower monthly rate simply because it’s ready to go. 

Because a factory order lease car is effectively built to your chosen specification, there’s less flexibility once everything is confirmed.

All lease cars arranged with Nationwide Vehicle Contracts come with a 14-day cooling-off period, where you have the right to cancel your purchase for any reason and receive a full refund. 

After this, however, changes or cancellations become much more difficult and will depend on where your order is in the process. It's important to read your order documents carefully and speak to your leasing consultant as soon as possible if you think you need to change or cancel a factory order. 

If you’ve decided that a made to order lease car is right for you, a factory order can be a brilliant way to get exactly what you want.

• Explore our lease deals if you’re happy to wait a bit longer for your perfect spec.
• Or, if speed is more important than colour or options, browse our in-stock lease cars for the fastest delivery.

Not sure which route suits you best? Our team is on hand to talk you through the pros and cons, current lead times and any alternatives that might get you behind the wheel sooner.