The Perfect Guide To Leasing A Car

By Karen Peterson


Being a smart buyer when choosing what to purchase is critical. Every year, the cost of commodities increase because of inflation. The same applies for rent or mortgage. Of course, there's also the need to have transportation when you travel to and from work, school, or home. If you want an idea on how to save money, then read this guide to leasing a car.

Buying a new car is generally more expensive than leasing one. Of course, the car must be returned to the lessor, normally a bank or dealership, once the term ends. However, if you're thinking of purchasing a new car in the next few years, it shouldn't be a problem since car leases just last two to three years.

Banks and companies offering leases often require low down payment and monthly rates. Plus, you end up getting a new car for fewer money that you would have otherwise paid for. In addition, due to the short time you have the vehicle in your possession, you won't have to spend much money in maintenance, since you end up returning the leased vehicle before any major tune-ups or maintenance requirements are needed.

A leased car is a good choice if you want to keep up with the trend in new cars. At the end of your term, you simply drop off the car and get the next one on lease. Of course, this assumes that the previously leased vehicle doesn't have any damages or excess mileages that would incur extra charges. Still, in the long run, it should still be cheaper than managing and owning a couple of cars.

Before signing the lease contract, look at the allowable miles and any charges for over-mileage. Your lessor will indicate a limit per year, which should be 12,000 to 15,000 miles. Going beyond that will cost you per additional mile, which may be expensive once totaled. If you know that you'll definitely go beyond the limit, add additional miles to your contract. At the end of the year, it should still be cheaper than any over-mileage fee. Take note, though, that if you end up liking the car and decide to buy it after your lease, then there's no need to pay over-mileage charges.

You should also take note of the cost of residual percentage, which refers to the residual value of the car once the lease is up. If this value, usually listed as a percentage, is high, that means that the amount of depreciation you have to pay is lower, which translates to lower monthly payments. One other value to take note of is the residual amount, which is the amount that you still need to pay in case you decide to purchase the car once the term ends.

Once you feel confident that you want a leased car, the next step is to shop for one. Online research is the quickest way to find the best lease deals. There are websites that collate and compare different offerings, or you can visit the website of your car maker of choice. Leased deals from car makers and usually less expensive than dealerships.

If your goal is the find the best deal, don't put focus on the cheapest car in the lot. Remember two important factors - which one has the least expensive out-of-pocket requirement, and which one has the cheapest monthly payment. As you start asking for quotes, don't limit yourself to one. Request for quotes from various options, and ask that the quote they provide contain registration, taxes, and any additional fees.




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