Step 1: Collect Information
Two months before the lease ends, read your contract and gather information on end of lease costs and the value of your vehicle. Here’s what you need to know:
Excess Wear and Tear Charges
- Get an estimate. Always ask your dealer to provide you with a written estimate of any wear and tear charges.
- Shop for lower costs. If the dealer indicates that there will be wear and tear charges, get written repair estimates from other repair shops for the listed problems.
- Who does the repairs? If your contract requires that the dealer perform the repairs, ask if you can get a second estimate from another repairer before the work is started.
Excess Mileage Charges
- Estimate your final mileage. Check the car’s current odometer reading and add the additional mileage you expect to drive before turning the car in.
- Calculate your charges. Determine how many miles you are allowed in your contract and multiply any “excess” miles by the per mile charge.
Disposition Charges and Other End of Lease Fees
- Review your contract. Determine if there is a disposition fee or other charges when you turn in the car.
Step 2: Add up the Costs to End the Lease
The bottom line. Add up the following (using the lowest estimated excess wear and tear charges you received):
| Excess wear and tear | $ |
| Excess mileage | $ |
| Disposition charge | $ |
| Other charges | $ |
| TOTAL due at lease end | $ |
Don’t forget to take into consideration what it will cost you to buy or lease another car. You will need a down payment or up front lease expenses.
Step 3: Determine the Cost to Buy the Car
- Determine if you can buy. Review your contract and find out if you can buy the car. Also check to see if a purchase option fee will be charged.
- Check purchase notification requirements. Many contracts require that you notify the dealer in advance (typically one month) if you want to buy the car.
- Determine purchase price. Look for the listed price in contract. If the contract describes a method to determine the purchase price, ask the dealer for the current value.
- Determine the car’s retail value. Find out how much the car should cost in the open market by checking the NADA Official Used Car Guide, often called the “blue book,” and found in most libraries and credit unions. The Guide’s “retail value” is what you would expect to pay for the car.
- Add up all the charges: Don’t forget to include the purchase option fee when determining the cost to buy the car.
| Retail value | $ |
| Purchase option fee | $ |
| Taxes | $ |
| Other charges | $ |
| TOTAL cost to buy | $ |
Buying the Car
- Negotiate. If the retail value of the car is less than what the lessor wants to charge you, don’t hesitate to make a fair offer. It will save them the expense of transferring the car to another owner.
- Compare financing. If you decide you want to keep the car, be sure to compare the dealer’s financing with your credit union or other financial institutions.
- Get full credit. Be sure to get full credit for your vehicle if you trade it in for another lease or purchase. This amount should be listed in your new contract.
Turning in the Car
Generally, if the car is worth less than the purchase price in the contract and the dealer won’t sell it for less, turn in the car.
- Add up your costs. Review the information you collected on how much the lessor will charge for repairs and compare that with the independent estimate you received.
- Repair the car. If the independent estimate is substantially less than the lessor’s estimate, repair the car before turning it in. Be sure that the repairs meet the requirements of your contract and respond to the problems listed on the lessor’s estimate.
- Get it in writing. If you turn in a repaired car or one you consider meets the terms of the contract, be sure that you obtain a written confirmation of the condition of your vehicle.
- Get a report. If your contract specifies that the dealer has the right to repair the vehicle, request a Vehicle Condition Report with a detailed estimate of the repairs and costs.
- Make a record. Document the condition of the car before you turn it in by taking pictures or videos of both the interior and exterior of the car. Make sure the dealer knows that you have this information.