Read all about setting up a car subscription with Elmo. Find out about vehicle range, what’s included, contract flexibility and more so that you can make an informed decision when deciding whether Elmo is right for you.
Simon Richardson
Last update 26. September 2023 Reading time 3:37 min
About elmo
elmo aims to be the easiest way to switch to an electric car.
The elmo team believes that new technology should benefit everyone and work for a brighter, cleaner future for people and the planet.
Customers can select and subscribe to an electric car in a few minutes on the platform. There’s no deposit to pay and users can keep the car for as long as they like on a simple monthly subscription plan. Only 30 days’ notice is required to return the car (just like Netflix or Spotify).
The basic package includes the electric car, comprehensive insurance cover, maintenance and breakdown cover.
In other words, everything you need for truly ’net zero’ driving is included in a single monthly price.
Customers can also choose to add a ‘bundle’ of services to their subscription to fit their lifestyle and preferences, such as public charging.
How it Works
The sign up process takes 5 minutes and is all done online.
- Customers register by uploading their driving license, proof of address, and a selfie
- The elmo team runs identity and driving license checks to verify eligibility
- elmo delivers anywhere in Great Britain and as early as one week from booking, depending on car availability
- Customers get a physical key with the car and an online dashboard with all their driving data
- elmo’s minimum term is just 60 days
Costs and Fees
Their pricing aims to be competitive when compared with lease deals, but without a deposit or lengthy contract. At the point of booking, customers are asked to make an initial payment covering the following:
- First month of subscription. The first month of subscription is taken upfront at the point of booking. Future monthly payments from the second month onward will be taken by Direct Debit.
- Delivery. A flat fee of £119 for all of England and Wales. Additional delivery fees may apply for Scotland.
There is also an early return fee of £199 for 60-day contracts, or £750 for 12-month contracts.
Standard package pricing
The standard package is the monthly price each car is advertised for on the website. This includes:
- Electric car hire
- Comprehensive insurance cover
- All scheduled maintenance & servicing
- Breakdown cover
The standard package fee may vary depending on how long users choose to have the car and how many miles per month they need.
The basic mileage allowance is 800 miles per month (though this rolls over so just needs to average at 800 miles per month for the period the user has the vehicle).
Customising the subscription
Users can customise their subscription to include extra options and features according to their lifestyle and preferences. elmo currently offers:
- Public charging membership – which includes unlimited access to the full BP Pulse Network, including their ultra-fast chargers, for £10 a month.
- Additional Drivers – Add up to 2 additional drivers. It costs £10pm for each driver added.
- Flexible Mileage – choose from 800, 1,000, and 1,200 mile packages.
Brands & Models
elmo exclusively offer 100% electric cars. Here is a selection of the popular makes and models they have available on subscription:
- Tesla Model 3
- BMW i3
- Polestar 2
- Volkswagen ID 3
- Honda e Advance
- Kia e-Niro
- Fiat 500e
- Renault ZOE ZE50
- Nissan Leaf e+ Tekna
- MG ZS EV
- MG5
- Vauxhall Corsa-e
Notice Periods
elmo needs 30 days’ notice, after your first month, to change or cancel a subscription.
What’s Special about elmo?
Here are the main benefits of switching to an electric car on subscription with elmo.
- Price. The prices are competitive with lease deals, plus there’s no deposit to pay.
- Flexibility. Customers can keep the car as long as they like and return or swap it with just 30 days’ notice.
- Control. Customers get access to an online dashboard showing them everything from their driving data, cost and carbon savings to mileage data and a driver safety score.
- Simplicity. The monthly payment can cover every cost of ‘owning’ the car including charging.
- Salary sacrifice. Elmo’s fully-managed salary sacrifice scheme for electric cars on subscription is now available in the UK, offering savings of 30-60% on the cost of an electric car subscription.
elmo have developed an attractive proposition building on other flexible services. They have set themselves apart with a focus on net zero, integrations with the energy eco-system and offering best-in-class customer service.
They have also advised us that they are building out features to reward customers for safe and sustainable driving.
There is also a salary sacrifice scheme where employees can pay their electric car subscription each month using their gross salary – offering tax benefits and savings.
Videos
FAQs
Who owns Elmo?
Elmo is backed by Constellation Automotive Group, the largest integrated digital car marketplace in the UK and Europe.
What is Elmo drive?
Elmo is a car subscription provider specifically for electric vehicles. Their mission is to make switching to an electric car easy and sustainable, as well as accessible to a wide market.
How does an Elmo subscription work?
To set up a subscription with Elmo, go online and follow the instructions to customise mileage, delivery date, and any optional extras. You have to pay the first month up front, including the delivery fee and Elmo will then perform their eligibility checks before the subscription is approved.
How many miles is an Elmo subscription?
The standard mileage package for an Elmo subscription is 800 per month. However, you can also buy a range of bolt-ons to increase this.
Does Elmo include insurance?
Insurance is included with Elmo, and all claims and information is accessible via their dedicated app. For any claims or accidents, the first thing you should do is go on the app and follow the instructions.
Conclusion
According to the elmo website, their mission is to make switching to an electric car smart, seamless and sustainable, for everybody. And thanks to the net zero nature of their subscriptions, this will stop thousands of tonnes of CO2 from entering the atmosphere each year in the process.
That’s a laudable endeavour and the elmo team appear to have developed the right business model and tech platform to achieve it.
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