en
de
In the course of salary conversion , you as an employee do not receive part of your contractually agreed salary in cash, but as a non-cash benefit during the use of the company bike.
This is done by means of a supplementary agreement to the employment contract, in which your future salary is reduced by a fixed amount (conversion rate) for the duration of use. This allows you to benefit from tax and duty advantages. You can easily calculate your savings with our bike leasing calculator.
The leasing rate stated in the supplementary agreement to the employment contract does not correspond to the actual costs for your company bike.
The leasing rate is shown both net and gross. If your employer is entitled to deduct input tax, the net leasing rate is usually offset against your gross monthly salary. This reduces your taxable gross monthly salary, which leads to a reduction in your taxes and social security contributions. If your employer is not entitled to deduct input tax, the gross leasing rate will be deducted from your gross monthly salary.
The conversion rate in the supplementary agreement to the employment contract does not take into account a possible subsidy from the employer.
Would you like to know exactly how much you can save? Then try our bike leasing calculator.
Employers have the option of reducing the monthly conversion rate with a voluntary subsidy, but are not obliged to do so. However, our experience shows that participation in company bike leasing among employees increases when employers provide a subsidy.
Company wheel leasing via salary conversion reduces your monthly gross income and therefore also the social security contributions for your pension. This is often seen as a disadvantage of company bike leasing, but the losses are minimal. For example, with a bike price of 3,000 euros, the future pension entitlement is reduced by around 2 euros per month if the bike is leased for 36 months. In total, this would be around 468 euros less pension for the entire pension entitlement period, which is less than the average savings from the company bike. Regular cyclists also benefit from positive health aspects: Recent studies show that they are fitter, healthier and tend to live longer .
If you receive your company bike as a salary supplement, your employer will cover the entire cost in addition to your salary. In this case, there is no salary conversion, so social security contributions are not reduced and your pension is not affected.
The term of contracts for company bikes is generally 36 months.
With the Lease a Bike service bike concept, you have a free choice of type and brand. We want you to be able to ride your dream bike. Get an overview of possible company bike leasing models in the Bikefinder or contact a bike shop near you for other bike models.
Your employer determines how many company bikes can be leased per employee. When you log in to the Lease a Bike portal with your access data, you will find information on the maximum number of bikes on the start page. If your employer allows you to lease several company bikes, it doesn't matter who is using the company bike.
You can also lease several company bikes with your existing order code. You can choose a different dealership or a later date. The code is only no longer valid once the maximum number of bikes has been reached.
If more than one company bike can be used privately free of charge or at a reduced price under the employment contract, the pecuniary benefit of providing the company bikes for private use must be calculated for each company bike in accordance with the 1% rule.
Note: In the case of the company bike, the assessment basis for the taxable non-cash benefit is quartered and rounded down to the nearest hundred. This corresponds to 0.25% taxation.
Find out more about the process of bike leasing as an employee.
Lease a Bike has an active network of over 6,000 specialist dealers throughout Germany. You can find specialist dealers near you under the following link. If your desired dealer is not listed, please contact us. Registering a new specialist retailer can be done in just a few steps.
Company bikes with electric motor assistance can be divided into two categories: 1. pedelecs or e-bikes and 2. S-pedelecs. The term "e-bike" is often used as a synonym for pedelec.
With a pedelec (pedal electric cycle), the rider is assisted by an electric drive (max. 250 watts) up to a speed of 25 km/h when pedaling. It is legally considered a bicycle, may be ridden on cycle paths and does not require registration or a driver's license. Helmets are not compulsory.
Use the Bikefinder to find out which company bike is right for you.
The S-pedelec (fast pedelec) as a service bike is functionally comparable to the pedelec, but the rider is supported by the electric motor (max. 500 watts) up to 45 km/h. As an S-Pedelec is classified as a moped, legal requirements apply:
You must ride an S-pedelec on the road unless the cycle path is signposted for motorized two-wheelers, it is outside a built-up area or the motor is switched off.
If an S-pedelec is leased as a company bike via the Lease a Bike concept, for example, the commute (Section 8 (2) EStG) must be taxed at 0.03% of the list price per kilometer.
Your employer can offer company bike leasing as an employee benefit. Lease a Bike enables you as an employee to lease your dream bike quickly and easily. Thanks to deferred compensation, the bike of your choice is paid for monthly via your gross salary and you save on social security contributions and taxes. If you use company bike leasing, you will also benefit, for example, from an improvement in your fitness and health as well as savings of up to 40% compared to purchasing. You also make a contribution to sustainable mobility by switching to a bike. You can find more information here.
Bike leasing through your employer? No problem! With Lease a Bike, anyone can lease their dream bike quickly and easily. Thanks to deferred compensation, the bike of your choice is paid monthly via your gross salary and you can save on social security contributions and taxes.
How to get started with bike leasing and Lease a Bike:
Convince your employer
Do you want a company bike? Talk to your employer first. Our team will be happy to help you.
Once your employer has successfully registered, you can register via an individual link in our online portal. Once your employer has approved your registration, you will receive an order code for your company bike.
Select a company bike
Use your order code to select your company bike from a specialist retail partner. You can choose any brand and any type of bike.
Get pedaling
You conclude a contract with your employer for the use of the bike. The term is 36 months. If you wish, we can offer you the company bike at the end of the contract period at a reasonable price.
Secure an information package now and convince your employer.
Cycling is good for your health and your wallet. A company bike can be up to 40% cheaper than buying one. Salary conversion reduces your taxable gross salary and therefore also your social security contributions and taxes. You can easily see how much you can save with our calculator.
Here is an overview of the advantages of company bike leasing with Lease a Bike:
Another major advantage of bike leasing is that you can use the bike of your choice for both business and private purposes without any worries. Thanks to your company bike, you can integrate exercise directly into your everyday life, keep fit and make everyday journeys in a climate-friendly way. In addition, you often save time and money, for example in the form of travel costs, by replacing your car with a bike from time to time. A practical and efficient option, especially in the city. Find out more about the benefits here.
In the case of salary conversion, the employee receives a portion of the contractually agreed salary not in cash, but as a payment in kind for the period during which the company bike is made available. This means that a change is made by means of a supplementary agreement to the employment contract, in which the employee's future salary is reduced by a fixed amount (conversion rate) for the duration of the transfer of use. This then results in the tax and contribution benefit for the employee. In most cases, the imputed income is also subject to taxation. This is added to the monthly gross salary.
What does this mean exactly?
Gross monthly salary
+ taxation of imputed income
- Conversion rate
- All-round protection costs
= new gross monthly salary
- Taxes
- Taxation of imputed income
= net monthly salary
If you now compare the net monthly salary without the company bike with the net monthly salary with the company bike, you get the monthly costs for the company bike leasing.
Below are some explanations of terms.
Conversion Rate:
The conversion rate is the sum of the leasing rate and the cost of the selected all-round protection package, less any cost coverage by the employer The gross monthly salary is reduced by this conversion rate.
Taxation of the imputed income:
Depending on the form of the transfer by the employer, the use of the company bike is subject to taxation of the non-cash benefit. If a company bike is also provided for unrestricted private use as part of a salary conversion, the non-cash benefit must be taxed. The non-cash benefit from company bike leasing is calculated at a flat rate of 1% of a quarter of the gross list price (RRP) rounded down to a full €100, added to the taxable income and also taxed. This is also referred to colloquially as 0.25% taxation. The amount for the imputed income can be found in the calculation overview on the calculator page.
The leasing rate shown in the supplementary agreement to the employment contract does not correspond to the actual costs for your company bike.
The leasing rate is shown net and gross. If your employer is entitled to deduct input tax, the net leasing rate is usually offset against your gross monthly salary. This reduces your taxable gross monthly salary. Your taxes and social security contributions are reduced accordingly. If your employer is not entitled to deduct input tax, the gross leasing rate will be deducted from your gross monthly salary.
The conversion rate in the supplementary agreement to the employment contract does not take into account a possible subsidy from the employer.
Would you like to know exactly how much you can save? Then visit our calculator.
With salary conversion, you as an employee do not receive part of your contractually agreed salary in cash, but as a non-cash benefit for the period in which the company bike is provided.
This means that an amendment is made to the employment contract in which your future salary is reduced by a fixed amount (conversion rate) by mutual agreement for the duration of the transfer of use. This then results in a tax and contribution advantage for you as an employee. You can easily calculate your savings in our calculator.
Company wheel leasing via salary conversion reduces your monthly gross income and therefore also the social security contributions for your pension. This is often seen as a disadvantage of employee leasing. However, the resulting losses are minimal. With a bike price of 3,000 euros, for example, the future pension entitlement is reduced by around 2 euros per month if the bike is leased with salary conversion over 36 months. Extrapolated, this would be a total of 468 euros less pension for the entire pension entitlement period. This amount is less than the average savings from a company bike. There is also the positive health aspect: according to current studies, regular cyclists are not only fitter and healthier, they also live longer.
If you receive your company bike as a salary supplement, the employer bears the entire cost on top of your salary. As there is no salary conversion in this case, social security contributions are not reduced. The pension is therefore also not affected.
If your continued salary payments are discontinued, our payment default protection comes into effect. This happens, for example, if you are ill for longer than 42 days and receive sick pay or go on parental leave. Lease a Bike will cover the leasing installments for a maximum period of 12 months if the leasing contract has already been running for 6 months. In any case, we will always work together to find the best solution for all parties, unless one of the following options is possible or applies.
These can be:
Employers can reduce the monthly conversion rate with a voluntary allowance. However, there is no obligation to do so. However, experience shows that participation in company bike leasing among employees increases when employers pay a subsidy.
If you do not wish to purchase the bike, we will conveniently collect it from you or your company.
If your continued salary payments are discontinued, our payment default protection comes into effect. This happens, for example, if you are ill for longer than 42 days and receive sick pay or go on parental leave. Lease a Bike will cover the leasing installments for a maximum period of 12 months if the leasing contract has already been running for 6 months. In any case, we will always work together to find the best solution for all parties, unless one of the following options is possible or applies.
These can be:
If your continued salary payments are discontinued, our payment default protection comes into effect. This happens, for example, if you are ill for longer than 42 days and receive sick pay or go on parental leave. Lease a Bike will cover the leasing installments for a maximum period of 12 months if the leasing contract has already been running for 6 months. In any case, we will always work together to find the best solution for all parties, unless one of the following options is possible or applies.
These can be:
Premature termination of a leasing contract is also possible in certain cases during the agreed contract term of 36 months. Please do not hesitate to contact us.
Yes, you can use your company bike for private purposes.
Every Lease a Bike all-round protection package includes theft & damage protection, as well as a free Europe-wide mobility guarantee and a service package with an annual budget for wear and tear repairs and inspections.
Theft & damage protection
Our theft & damage protection covers all sudden and unforeseeable damage or destruction to the company bike, e.g. due to
There is no deductible!
Service package
Employees can choose between one of three packages - Basic, Premium or All-inclusive - with different budget limits depending on the selected bike and usage. The budget included in the package can be used for necessary wear and tear repairs and for an annual inspection*. Tyre damage is also covered by the individual annual wear and tear budget.
The budget per package is:
*Note: The costs of the annual inspection are capped. The costs of the initial inspection are only billable up to a gross amount of €41.65 via the selected service package. The costs of subsequent annual inspections are only billable up to a gross amount of €83.30 via the selected service package. Any additional inspection costs are to be borne by the lessee or user.
Free Europe-wide mobility guarantee including 24/7 roadside assistance
In the event of a claim, we provide the following services to maintain mobility:
If you would like to take advantage of the mobility guarantee, please call 0049 4471 967 3113.
*from a distance of 10km from your permanent residence
The all-round protection packages include an annual inspection of the company bike. The costs for the inspection and for wear and tear repairs are billed via the booked budget. Then contact one of the Lease a Bike specialist dealers and make an appointment.
The dealer will invoice Lease a Bike directly for the costs of the inspection. As an employee, you will never have to pay in advance.
Inspections and wear and tear repairs can be carried out at any Lease a Bike dealer.
The all-round protection packages include an annual inspection of the company bike. The costs for the inspection and for wear and tear repairs are billed via the booked budget. Then contact one of the Lease a Bike specialist dealers and make an appointment.
The dealer will invoice Lease a Bike directly for the costs of the inspection. As an employee, you will never have to pay in advance.
Inspections and wear and tear repairs can be carried out at any Lease a Bike dealer.
Simply use the dealer search on our website to find a registered Lease a Bike dealer. Please find out in advance whether the dealer you are looking for can also carry out the service for the manufacturer of your bike.
The statutory warranty period is two years. After this period has expired, damage, e.g. to the drive or battery on pedelecs/e-bikes, is still covered by our all-round protection during the term of the warranty. Warranty and guarantee claims are always handled directly by the Lease a Bike specialist shop from which the company bike was purchased.
Every Lease a Bike service bike receives an all-round protection package with an individually selected annual wear and tear budget upon conclusion of the contract. We use this budget to cover all necessary repairs to restore operational safety as well as wear-related repairs. This includes the following wear parts, among others:
Firstly, a police report is mandatory in the event of theft. Using the file number and the household contents insurance details (if available), the report can then be easily submitted by the bike dealer via our portal.
Note on object exchange in the event of theft within the existing contract with a bike of the same type and quality. The new bike must only have the same purchase value, including accessories, as the stolen bike.
In order to guarantee that the theft report is processed quickly, it will only be submitted by specialised bicycle dealers. Please contact us if you have any further questions.
The damage report is simply submitted via the specialist dealer.
Our theft & damage cover includes all sudden and unforeseeable damage or destruction to the leased object, e.g. due to:
Free Europe-wide mobility guarantee including 24/7 roadside assistance
In the event of a claim, we provide the following services from a distance of 10km from the permanent residence to maintain mobility:
You can reach our breakdown service on 04471 967 3113. You can find further contact details here.
The company bike and company car can also be used at the same time. The 1% method then applies to both the company bike and the car.
In contrast to the company car, employees do not have to pay tax of 0.03 percent per kilometer for the journey to work.
Electric bicycles with a motor that provides assistance at more than 25 km per hour are classified as motor vehicles under traffic law and the non-cash benefit is assessed in the same way as for a company car.
Note: In the case of a company bike, the assessment basis for the taxable non-cash benefit is quartered and rounded down to the nearest hundred. This corresponds to 0.25% taxation.
The commuting allowance for journeys between home and work is generally to be granted at € 0.30/km regardless of the means of transportation (Section 9 (1) No. 4 EstG).
At a time when the focus is on environmental awareness and sustainable mobility, the company bike is becoming increasingly important as an ecological alternative to the company car, especially in urban areas. It's a good thing that there is a wide range of company bike options available. It can be difficult to decide on the right model. We have taken a close look at various types of company bike and examined their individual requirements.
At Lease a Bike, we've known it for a long time, but now science agrees - cyclists are happier. The reasons were investigated in a study by the University of Auckland. The researchers have observed in previous studies that people who switch from cars or public transport to bicycles are measurably happier.
The subsidy for company bikes was adjusted so that riding a company bikes is now even more favorable for employees. The assessment basis for the taxable non-cash benefit for private use is now divided into four.
