Leasing van - spare keys

I've heard of anything like this before. Surely if they want to have a spare key stored at their office, they should have a key cut themselves and not you. Also if it's not in the contract that sounds strange to me.

Thanks SimCityAT
The fact is that being a new electronic key, to make a copy is complicated and expensive as there is a special code to reproduce the key and protect the car from being stolen.
They cannot simply make a copy, otherwise, you can do it in Malta with euro 2 and there will be no issue.
I would like to know if somebody else had come across this issue before.
Many thanks

Sure, but why should you have to fork out the cost?

Hi and welcome to the Forum.

As an ex-Fleet Manager, it's normal to just get one set of keys with your contract hire vehicle, the main reason (that they probably won't tell you) is that should you cease trading (force majeure), they remain owners of their vehicle and will be able to come and take it back without having to negotiate with your creditors.

It's common for one of the 2 keys to be a master key, this is the one they will keep and you will have to ask them to get a second key made up if you want a spare.  As for it not being in the contract; what does it say with specific reference to vehicle keys?

Hi Cynic,
thank so much for your help. I was hoping that somebody as you view my comment.
You have just confirmed my hypothesis.

There is no mention of the keys in the contract...
We were just disappointed as a car leasing of 5 years, it is not like a car rented for a week.
My boyfriend bought a car paying every month for 5 years and he received the 2 keys + a third small one. Basically, he is not yet the owner ..... same thing, but different procedure about the keys.....
We need to work with the van even at night time, so the car agency will not be able to come and bring us the spare keys if we need.

Hi again,

There are many variations on the vehicle acquisition front nowadays.  At the end of what is nowadays referred to as a lease, you can either own the vehicle (perhaps pay something in the process), or it goes back to the owner - you've never owned it, you're the registered keeper and responsible for any national operational legal issues (ie. paying speeding/parking fines), plus whatever it says in your contract.

When you rent a vehicle, it's normally on the supplier's standard terms and conditions, or you may vary them (i.e. ask for an extra key); that's an additional cost that can be spread over the life of the rental.  These items remain the property of the supplier and will normally be listed on a separate schedule to the contract.  Things like vehicle servicing and fair wear and tear on moving parts are normally covered by the contract - sometimes tyres are excluded - mainly because you can probably get a much cheaper tyre than pay the suppliers surcharge.

Bottom line is it sounds like you know about pest control, but not much about acquiring commercial vehicles; it's why companies like yours should use someone like me to acquire your vehicles, but I'm retired now, so don't mind giving free advice.

Hope this helps.

Cynic
Expat Team

Pensioners always give us their time with love. I am so thankful for it Cynic for the free advise.
I checked all contract in details part by part but as you said, it is not my field and I did not think about the spare keys. I just took it for granted.
Hope that our comments will help a new company which will go through this type of contract.
Hugs and take care
Pat