Lease a bike

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

• Does Cyclobility also collaborate with other bicycle dealers for leasing?

  Absolutely. Cyclobility has a large network of local bike shops where you can choose your bike as a leaseholder.
  You can find an overview here.

• Can educational staff lease a bike?

  Op vandaag kun je als leerkracht geen fiets leasen in het onderwijs. Toch niet via de klassieke brutoloonruil formule of door optimalisatie van de eindejaarspremie.
  

  Het schoolbestuur heeft echter de optie om als werkgever rechtstreeks een fietsleaseovereenkomst aan te gaan met een fietsleasemaatschappij en de voorwaarden daarvan te bespreken met het personeel. Als dit pad wordt bewandeld, zal de bijdrage voor het leasen van de fiets losstaan van het salaris van de leerkracht, dat wordt uitbetaald door het Agentschap voor Onderwijsdiensten (AGODI). Hierdoor heeft fietsleasing op dit moment geen fiscale voordelen voor mensen die werkzaam zijn in het onderwijs.

• What are the disadvantages of bike leasing?

  There are very few disadvantages to bike leasing, and they certainly don’t outweigh the many benefits. These are the main things to keep in mind:

  1. Early termination fee: If you resign from your job, you can choose to purchase the bike. If you don’t, you’ll need to pay a termination fee. If your employer ends your contract, they are responsible for the termination fee.
  
  2. No ownership during the lease period: You are not the owner of the bike during the lease. However, you can choose to purchase it at the end of the lease term.
  
  3. Minimal impact on your pension: If you lease a bike through your employer using a gross salary exchange, your gross salary will be slightly lower. This has a limited effect on your pension. You can read all about it here.

• Can I lease a bicycle as an individual?

  Leasing a bicycle as a private person unfortunately is not possible. However, it is possible to obtain a bicycle loan as a private person. So you can buy a bicycle and pay it off at your leisure.

• How much does it cost to lease a bike through your employer?

  The cost of leasing a bike through your employer depends on several factors: the retail price of the bike, the duration of the lease (usually 36 or 48 months), and whether you finance it through a gross salary exchange or via your year-end bonus.

  Thanks to bike leasing, you can save up to 40% compared to buying a bike directly from a bike shop.

• What is the impact of bike leasing on my net salary and pension?

  Leasing a bike through your employer is done via your gross salary or your year-end bonus. This lowers your taxable income, which can be beneficial. There is a small impact on your pension and other salary-linked benefits, but this is rarely significant compared to the financial and practical advantages of leasing.

• In which joint committees or sectors is bicycle leasing via end-of-year bonus possible?

  Bicycle leasing via the end-of-year bonus is only possible if approved by the joint committee or the sector. Currently, agreements exist in the following sectors: JC 200 (Supplementary National Joint Committee for Employees), JC 207 (Petroleum Sector), JC 310 (Banking Sector), JC 329 (Socio-cultural Sector), JC 335 (Technology and Consultancy), JC 330 (Health Institutions and Services), JC 111 (Metal Industry – Manual Workers), JC 209 (Metal Industry – Clerical Workers), and Education (education and CLB staff via the Flemish government, from 2025).

  Not every company in these sectors automatically offers bicycle leasing via the end-of-year bonus. Check with your employer or HR department to find out whether this scheme is available to you.
  

• What is the difference between bicycle leasing via end-of-year bonus and gross salary exchange?

  With bicycle leasing via your end-of-year bonus, you use your annual bonus to pay for the lease. With gross salary exchange, you trade in part of your monthly gross salary instead. Both options have tax advantages, but the end-of-year bonus is typically a one-off, larger amount, while salary exchange spreads the cost monthly.

• What impact does bicycle leasing via end-of-year bonus have on my pension?

  Because your end-of-year bonus is part of your salary and influences pension accrual, using it for leasing may mean it is no longer counted in your future pension calculation. However, the impact is limited and depends on the size of the bonus and how often you exchange it.

• Can you use a leased bike in your private life?

  Yes, you can also use the leased bike you get through your employer in your private life, and it won’t be considered a taxable benefit. Whether you cycle to work, run errands or cycle in your free time, there is no additional taxation.
  

• How many times should I use the lease bike to come to work?

  There is no legal minimum number of times you must commute by lease bike in order to benefit from the tax exemption. The key requirement is that the bike is available for commuting, even if you also use it for private purposes.

  That said, some companies do set a minimum number of commuting days in their internal bicycle policy to ensure the bike is effectively used for work-related travel.
  

• Is there a difference between a leased bike and a company car?

  Yes, there are important differences. A company car is indeed considered a benefit in kind and subject to taxes, while a leased bicycle is completely exempt from BIK. Moreover, the cost of a leased bike is usually lower and contributes to a more sustainable mobility policy.