End of IT leasing: how to get value from a fleet of PCs
At the end of a lease, you can only sell equipment that you own. Under a French crédit-bail (finance lease), that means exercising the purchase option; under a simple operating lease with no option, the fleet goes back to the lessor. Once you own it, a fleet is valued by the kilo (on 15/11/2026: €0.70/kg for a complete server, €0.50/kg for a complete computer) or, for recent components, by the unit, with data erasure in every case.
What can you do with the equipment at the end of the contract?
It all depends on the contract you signed. Equipment finance leasing (crédit-bail mobilier) is defined by Article L313-7 of the French Monetary and Financial Code: the lessor buys the equipment, remains its owner during the lease, and gives the lessee the option to acquire it at an agreed price that takes into account, at least in part, the rent already paid. A simple operating lease does not always include a purchase option.
At the end of the term, there are generally three options:
| Option | Who owns it afterwards? | Can you resell? |
|---|---|---|
| Return to the lessor | The lessor | No |
| Extension of the contract | The lessor | No, not during the extension |
| Exercising the purchase option | Your company | Yes, once the option price is paid |
The exact terms (notice period, option price, return charges, expected condition of the equipment) are set out in your contract. Read them several months before the end date: they determine your room for manoeuvre.
Do you need to exercise the purchase option to resell?
If you want to sell, yes, and the decision should be made with figures. The calculation is simple: compare the option price with the buyback value of your fleet. To get it, send an inventory or a few photos before the end date: RECYNEW quotes a batch within 48 working hours.
Two cases come up often:
- The option price is low: buying and then reselling lets you recover part of the fleet's value, and you choose the treatment and erasure route yourself.
- The option price exceeds the buyback value: returning the equipment makes more sense. You then still need to erase the data before it goes back (see below).
How much is a fleet worth at the end of a lease?
A leased fleet is often uniform and recent, which works in its favour. A few benchmarks on 15/11/2026, at the base public rate:
| Equipment | Buyback price on 15/11/2026 |
|---|---|
| Complete server | €0.70/kg |
| Complete computer | €0.50/kg |
| Complete laptop without battery | €1.05/kg |
| 32 GB DDR4 server memory module | €15.00/unit |
| 8 GB DDR4 PC memory module | €3.25/unit |
| 10th-generation Intel Core i7 processor | €30.00/unit |
| 8th-generation Intel Core i5 processor | €10.00/unit |
| 2.5" 512 GB SSD | €11.50/unit |
The gap between per-kilo and per-unit pricing is clear. By the kilo, a 25 kg server is worth €17.50. Eight 32 GB DDR4 modules, by the unit, are worth €120.00. Working, recent components (memory, processors, tested drives) go back into reuse, the best form of recovery; the rest goes to material recycling. These prices rise with your profile and quantity (pallet, full lorry), and the firm price is confirmed after inspection of the equipment. Details are in the computer equipment price list and the RAM unit price list.
What should you do with the data before the fleet leaves?
Erase it, whether the equipment is sold or returned. Your company remains responsible for the personal data it processes and must ensure its security (Article 32 of the GDPR). The French data protection authority's guide to personal data security (CNIL, 2024 edition, sheet 15) recommends erasing the data from any equipment before it is disposed of, and supervising work carried out by third parties. Equipment returned to the lessor also leaves your control: the same precaution applies.
At RECYNEW, reusable media are securely erased and those that are not reusable are physically destroyed. A data erasure certificate can be provided to businesses that request one. See our page on business hard drive buyback with data wiping.
How do you organise the fleet exit?
- Take an inventory of the fleet a few months before the end date: models, quantities, configurations (memory, processor, drives), condition.
- Re-read the contract: notice period, option price, return conditions.
- Ask for a buyback quote based on the inventory or photos, and compare it with the option price.
- Decide: return, extension, or buyout followed by resale.
- Arrange collection: for a pallet or a lorry, collection can be arranged and factored into the offer. Create your buyback request stating your requirements (data erasure certificate, proof of handover).
- File the documents: detailed purchase note, proof of handover, data erasure certificate.
Why does reuse matter for a recent fleet?
Because most of the impact of digital technology has already been incurred at the manufacturing stage. According to the ADEME-Arcep study published in 2023 (2020 data), manufacturing equipment accounts for 79% of the carbon footprint of digital technology in France. A three- or four-year-old fleet contains components that can still be used: putting them back into circulation extends the life of what has already been made.
In summary
- Only equipment you own can be sold: under a crédit-bail, you must exercise the purchase option (Article L313-7 of the French Monetary and Financial Code).
- Compare the option price with a buyback quote, obtained within 48 working hours.
- On 15/11/2026: complete server €0.70/kg, complete computer €0.50/kg, 32 GB DDR4 server module €15.00 per unit.
- Erase the data before any exit, whether sale or return (Article 32 of the GDPR, CNIL sheet 15).
- Recent components go back into reuse, the rest into material recycling.