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Leasing is a way to obtain the use of a motor vehicle without actually purchasing it. Your rights and responsibilities, with respect to using the vehicle and making payments, are disclosed in the lease agreement. A lease agreement is complex, so be sure you understand the agreement before you sign it. Most lease terms are negotiable. Understanding the terms and how they relate to your own needs may help you negotiate a lease that is right for you. Upon your request, a dealer must provide a blank sample of its lease to you for your review.
Consider beginning, middle, and end-of-lease costs
At the beginning of the lease, you may have to pay your first monthly payment; a refundable security deposit or your last monthly payment; other fees for licenses, registration, and title; a capitalized cost reduction (like a down payment); an acquisition fee (also called a processing or assignment fee); freight or destination charges; and state or local taxes.
During the lease, you will have to pay your monthly payment; any additional taxes not included in the payment such as sales, use, and personal property taxes; insurance premiums; ongoing maintenance costs; and any fees for late payment. You will also have to pay for safety and emissions inspections and any traffic tickets. If you end your lease early, you may have to pay substantial early termination charges.
At the end of the lease, if you do not buy the vehicle, you may have to pay a disposition fee and charges for excess miles and excessive wear.
You can compare different lease offers and negotiate some terms, such as:
The agreed-upon value of the vehicle--a lower value can reduce your monthly payment.
Up-front payments, including the capitalized cost reduction.
The length of the lease.
The monthly lease payment.
Any end-of-lease fees and charges.
The mileage allowed and per-mile charges for excess miles.
The option to purchase either at lease-end or earlier.
Whether your lease includes "gap" coverage, protecting you if the vehicle is stolen or totaled.
Ask for alternatives to advertised specials and other lease offerings.
Know your rights and responsibilities
When you lease a vehicle, you have the right to:
Use it for an agreed-upon number of months and miles.
Turn it in at lease-end, pay any end-of-lease fees and charges, and "walk away."
Buy the vehicle if you have a purchase option.
Take advantage of any warranties, recalls, or other services that apply to the vehicle.
You may be responsible for:
Excess mileage charges when you return the vehicle. Your lease agreement will tell you how many miles you can drive before you must pay for extra miles and how much the per-mile charge will be.
Excessive wear charges when you return the vehicle. The standards for excessive wear, such as for body damage or worn tires, are in your lease agreement.
Substantial payments if you end the lease early. The earlier you end the lease, the greater these charges are likely to be.
Normal repairs and maintenance of the vehicle. The lessor must disclose this to you in writing when you first lease the vehicle. They must also tell you if the standard manufacturer’s warranty is available or if they provide any warranties on the vehicle. Because the warranty might not last as long as the lease, many lessors also sell extended service plans. Some of these are very comprehensive, covering everything from maintenance to towing, while others cover only the major systems. Read the warranty carefully to make sure it provides the type of coverage you desire.
Leasing is different from buying. Here’s how:
|
Leasing |
Buying |
Ownership | You do not own the vehicle. You get to use it, but must return it at the end of the lease unless you choose to buy it. | You own the vehicle and get to keep it at the end of financing. |
Up-front costs
| Up-front costs may include the first month’s payment, a refundable security deposit, a capitalized cost reduction (like a down payment), taxes, registration and other fees, and other charges.
| Up-front costs include the cash price or a down payment, taxes, registration and other fees, and other charges. |
Monthly payments
| Monthly lease payments are usually lower than monthly loan payments because you are paying only for the vehicle’s depreciation during the lease term, plus rent charges (like interest), taxes, and fees.
| Monthly loan payments are usually higher than monthly lease payments because you are paying for the entire purchase price of the vehicle, plus interest, other finance charges, taxes, and fees. |
Early termination
| You are responsible for any early termination charges if you end the lease early.
| You are responsible for any pay-off amount if you end the loan early. |
Vehicle return
| You may return the vehicle at lease-end, pay any end-of-lease costs, and “walk away." | You may have to sell or trade the vehicle if you decide you want a different vehicle. |
Future value
| The Lessor has the risk of the future market value of the vehicle.
| You have the risk of the vehicle’s future market value when you trade or sell it. |
Mileage
| Most leases limit the number of miles you may drive (often 12,000-15,000 per year). You can negotiate a higher mileage limit and pay a higher monthly payment.
You will likely have to pay charges for exceeding those limits if you return the vehicle.
| You may drive as many miles as you want, but higher mileage will lower the vehicle’s trade-in or resale value. |
Excessive wear | Most leases limit the wear to the vehicle during the lease term. You will likely have to pay extra charges for exceeding those limits if you return the vehicle. | There are no limits or charges for excessive wear to the vehicle, but excessive wear will lower the vehicle’s trade-in or resale value. |
End of term
| At the end of the lease (typically 2-4 years), you may have a new payment either to finance the purchase of the existing vehicle or to lease another vehicle.
| At the end of the loan term (typically 4-6 years), you have no further loan payments. |
For more information
Contact your dealer, manufacturer, leasing company, or financial institution for more information.
The federal Consumer Leasing Act and some state laws may provide you with additional consumer rights not covered in your lease agreement. For information on these laws, contact:
Federal Reserve Consumer Help
PO Box 1200
Minneapolis, MN 55480
(888) 851-1920
(877) 888-2520 FAX
(877) 766-8533 TTY
Email: ConsumerHelp@FederalReserve.gov
FederalReserveConsumerHelp.gov
or
Wisconsin Department of Transportation
Dealer & Agent Section
4822 Madison Yards Way
PO Box 7909
Madison, WI 53707-7909
(608) 266-1425
(608) 267-0323 FAX
dealerlicensingunit@dot.wi.gov
Wisconsindot.gov
(Some information taken from the Federal Reserve Board’s fact sheet, “Keys to Vehicle Leasing.”)