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How to Lease a Car: Everything You Need to Know
Leasing can be a cheaper, more flexible option for some drivers. But there are some things to consider before signing a lease.
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Updated · 5 min read
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Funto Omojola is a lead writer and content strategist on the credit cards team. Funto started writing for NerdWallet in 2020 and also has writing featured in MarketWatch, Yahoo Finance, Realtor.com, New York Post and Nasdaq, among others. Funto lives in Brooklyn, New York.
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Leasing offers drivers the ability to pay for a car only for a set amount of time, or certain number of miles. Car leasing can be a flexible option for some people, depending on their needs and lifestyle — but it’s not for everyone. Here’s what you need to know about leasing a car and how to get a good lease deal.
How does car leasing work?
When you lease a car, you pay monthly to drive it for a set amount of time — typically an allowance of 10,000 to 15,000 miles a year. For a standard three-year lease, that's from 30,000 to 45,000 miles. You don't own the car while leasing it nor after the lease expires. Unlike monthly loan payments that go toward owning a car, monthly lease payments don't build equity. At the end of the lease, you must return the car in the condition it was in at the beginning of the lease term.
To lease a car you need to present proof of income, proof of insurance, a valid driver's license and, similar to buying a car, dealers will use your credit score to determine your ability to make lease payments.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account factors like maximum rates, variety of loan options, visibility of borrower requirements, accessibility, speed of funding, fees and more.
Best for borrowers with good or excellent credit who want fast approval and funding to buy a new car.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account factors like maximum rates, variety of loan options, visibility of borrower requirements, accessibility, speed of funding, fees and more.
4.5
Est. APR:
Annual percentage rate (APR) represents the true cost of
borrowing money. It is your interest rate plus any loan fees,
and is expressed as a percentage.
Annual percentage rate (APR) represents the true cost of
borrowing money. It is your interest rate plus any loan fees,
and is expressed as a percentage.
6.74 - 15.24%
Term: 24 - 84 months
You will be redirected to the partner's website.
The terms presented here are estimated and provided solely to assist you
in finding a great lender. The terms may vary based on the partner's terms
and conditions.
You will be redirected to the partner's website
The terms presented here are estimated and provided solely to assist you in finding a great lender. The monthly payment amount, Annual Percentage Rate (APR), and any other terms are based on standard Consumers Credit Union rates and terms for your NerdWallet provided credit score, zip code, and the other self-provided information. These terms may vary based on your credit history, your individual income, or other terms of the lender.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account factors like maximum rates, variety of loan options, visibility of borrower requirements, accessibility, speed of funding, fees and more.
Best for applicants who want to compare multiple new car purchase loan offers.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account factors like maximum rates, variety of loan options, visibility of borrower requirements, accessibility, speed of funding, fees and more.
4.0
Est. APR:
Annual percentage rate (APR) represents the true cost of
borrowing money. It is your interest rate plus any loan fees,
and is expressed as a percentage.
Annual percentage rate (APR) represents the true cost of
borrowing money. It is your interest rate plus any loan fees,
and is expressed as a percentage.
6.24 - 29.90%
Term: 24 - 84 months
You will be redirected to the partner's website.
The terms presented here are estimated and provided solely to assist you
in finding a great lender. The terms may vary based on the partner's terms
and conditions.
You will be redirected to the partner's website
The terms presented here are estimated and provided solely to assist you in finding a great lender. The monthly payment amount, Annual Percentage Rate (APR), and any other terms are based on standard Consumers Credit Union rates and terms for your NerdWallet provided credit score, zip code, and the other self-provided information. These terms may vary based on your credit history, your individual income, or other terms of the lender.
Auto Credit Express
New car purchase loan
Not yet rated
Best for new-car buyers who can’t qualify for a lower-rate loan through a traditional lender and need help finding a dealer with subprime lending.
Min score: 525
Amount: $5,000 - $50,000
Min. Amount$5,000
Max. Amount$50,000
Not yet rated
Est. APR:
Annual percentage rate (APR) represents the true cost of
borrowing money. It is your interest rate plus any loan fees,
and is expressed as a percentage.
Annual percentage rate (APR) represents the true cost of
borrowing money. It is your interest rate plus any loan fees,
and is expressed as a percentage.
N/A - N/A
Term: 24 - 84 months
You will be redirected to the partner's website.
The terms presented here are estimated and provided solely to assist you
in finding a great lender. The terms may vary based on the partner's terms
and conditions.
You will be redirected to the partner's website
The terms presented here are estimated and provided solely to assist you in finding a great lender. The monthly payment amount, Annual Percentage Rate (APR), and any other terms are based on standard Consumers Credit Union rates and terms for your NerdWallet provided credit score, zip code, and the other self-provided information. These terms may vary based on your credit history, your individual income, or other terms of the lender.
Leasing will not make sense for all drivers. Consider the following before opting to lease a car.
There are mileage limits
Before you lease a car, it’s crucial to consider how far you typically drive. A common lease contract allows for 12,000 miles a year or 36,000 miles for three years. If you drive further than your set miles, you may be charged an excess mileage fee for each additional mile — anywhere from 12 to 30 cents per mile — when the lease ends. This can be costly for high-mileage drivers.
Note that you can buy additional miles upfront if you think you’ll be over the allotted miles.
Leasing can be cheaper than buying
Monthly leasing payments are typically lower than financing payments. The average lease payment for a new car is $596, while the average monthly loan payment for a new car is $748, according to Experian’s State of the Automotive Finance Market report for the third quarter of 2025
Although leasing monthly payments can be less expensive than new-vehicle loans, it's important to consider how long you’re willing to lease — is it a short-term option for you until you can afford a car, or will you be a serial leaser? If you’re always leasing, you’ll be consistently paying monthly payments but won't ever own the vehicle like you would when you buy a car.
Additionally, there are fees, like taxes and registration, as well as long term costs like insurance that can add up. Most leasing contracts also include an acquisition fee (which covers the cost of getting a credit check and verifying insurance coverage) and sometimes a security deposit (which is typically equal to one monthly payment and is used to offset any amount you might owe at the end of the lease).
Lease contracts allow for standard wear and tear like minor scuffs or spills. But at the end of your lease, you’ll have to return the car in the condition it was in when you got it. If you return a car with excessive wear and tear — things like damaged parts, permanent stains, broken glass or the like — you can incur fees.
It can be costly to end your lease early
Some dealerships charge early termination fees for breaking your lease early — which can cost up to the total amount left on the lease. Additionally, when you return your leased vehicle, you’ll typically be charged a disposition fee, which pays for the cost of preparing and selling your car at the end of the lease.
You can also choose to buy your leased car at the end of its lease for a buyout amount. Lease buyout amounts are typically determined at the start of the lease and can rarely be negotiated at the end.
Check your lease contract before the lease ends to see what the cost of ending your lease early is and how much the buyout price will be.
If you decide leasing is right for you, the following tips can make the process easier.
Choose cars that hold their value
When you lease a vehicle, you are paying for its depreciation, plus interest, tax and some fees. If you choose a car that holds its value, or depreciates less, your lease payment will be lower. In lease-speak, a car with good resale value has a strong “residual value.” This means the residual — the amount that’s left — is still high when your lease term is over. In other words, a higher residual value generally corresponds to lower monthly payments over the lease term.
Check leasing specials
Manufacturers sometimes advertise special leasing offers in the form of lower interest rates or lower monthly payments, for example. While such incentives can decrease lease costs, make sure to check for any hidden fees before accepting an offer. Some manufacturer deals might include drive-off fees, for example, which are similar to down payments and are paid upfront to start a lease.
Price the car
Before reaching out to dealers, use pricing guides such as Kelley Blue Book, Edmunds.com or the National Automobile Dealers Association to find the fair market value sales price for the car you want to lease. This will give you an idea of how much you can expect to pay and will help you better negotiate when it's time to lease.
Get quotes from dealers
Once you have a target sales price, contact multiple dealers to request and compare car price quotes. Contacting dealers by phone or via email in lieu of going to a physical car lot can alleviate some negotiating stress and make it easier to compare quotes without feeling pressured to commit to a car or dealer yet.
Once you’ve asked for price quotes, compare them to the estimates you received from pricing guides, and to your budget, to determine what the best option is for you. You can also shop around your lowest offer to other dealers to see if they can beat the price.
Set the lease terms
When you decide what vehicle to lease and what dealer to lease from, the next step is to set and understand the terms before signing a deal. Keep in mind that you can always negotiate the terms of your lease. Also, be sure to ask about the interest rate you’ll be charged, which will impact your monthly payment. In leasing, the interest rate is called the lease factor or money factor. Money factors are displayed differently from interest rates. A 6% interest rate would be displayed as 0.0025, for example. (To express a money factor as a percentage, multiply it by 2,400).
Close the deal
Before signing, make sure the lease contract matches your agreed-upon price and terms (length of the lease and mileage) and that there are no extra fees you are unaware of. Also, verify that the lease contract includes gap insurance, which covers the difference between the cost of damages if your car is stolen or damaged, and what your insurance will pay for the loss. Note that not all lease contracts automatically come with gap coverage.
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