Question 1

Do I have to return my car to the dealer I leased it from?

Accepted Answer

Usually not. Most lenders let you return to any dealer that sells the same brand and accepts returns for that lender, but it isn't guaranteed, call ahead, because a dealer can decline.

Question 2

What if I'm over my mileage?

Accepted Answer

Your contract sets a per-mile overage rate, commonly somewhere around $0.15–$0.30 per mile. Being meaningfully over is one of the strongest reasons to look at buying or trading instead of returning, since those paths usually sidestep the mileage bill.

Question 3

Can I get out of my lease early?

Accepted Answer

Sometimes. If the car appears to be worth more than your buyout price, a trade or buyout can end the lease early without a penalty bill. A straight early termination is usually the expensive route.

Question 4

How do I know if my car is worth more than my buyout price?

Accepted Answer

You compare your contract's buyout figure against an estimated market range for your year, model, mileage, and condition. We can give you that estimated range, treat it as an approximation, not an offer or an appraisal.

Question 5

Does any of this affect my credit?

Accepted Answer

Getting an estimate from us does not. There's no credit check and no application. Financing a buyout or a new car later involves a lender's own credit check, as usual.

Question 6

What does this cost me?

Accepted Answer

Nothing. The estimate is free and you don't need an account. If you ask to be connected with a licensed local dealer, that dealer may pay us, which is how the site stays free. You're never obligated to use them.

Question 7

How accurate are your numbers?

Accepted Answer

They're approximations. We work from public information and derived data to produce a reasonable range, not an exact figure. The definitive numbers always come from your contract and your lender's inspection.

Question 8

What do you do with my information?

Accepted Answer

We use it to produce your estimate and, if you ask, to connect you with a licensed local dealer. We don't sell your details on to open lists of buyers.

Question 9

Can I return the car to a different dealer?

Accepted Answer

Usually yes, as long as the dealer sells the same brand and accepts returns for your lender. Call first, some decline, and it's not their obligation to take it.

Question 10

Should I repair damage before I return it?

Accepted Answer

Sometimes. If an independent shop can fix something for less than what the lender is likely to charge, it can be worth it. If the item might fall inside normal wear, repairing it can be money spent for nothing.

Question 11

When do I find out what I owe?

Accepted Answer

Typically a few weeks after the return, once the inspection report is processed. This is why an estimate up front is useful.

Question 12

How do I know if my buyout price is good?

Accepted Answer

Compare it to an estimated market range for your exact car and mileage. If the estimated range sits comfortably above the buyout, that's a signal worth acting on, but treat it as an approximation, not a valuation.

Question 13

Can a third party buy my leased car?

Accepted Answer

It depends on the lender. Some allow third-party buyouts, many restrict them. Your lender's policy decides, and policies change.

Question 14

Does buying out avoid wear-and-tear charges?

Accepted Answer

Generally yes, you're keeping the car, so there's no return inspection. The damage is still there, it's just yours now.

Question 15

Do I have to trade with the same brand?

Accepted Answer

Not necessarily. Whether another brand's dealer can pay off your lease depends on your lender's rules, which vary and change.

Question 16

What if I owe more than the car is worth?

Accepted Answer

That's negative equity. Rolling it into a new loan makes the next car more expensive, often it's cheaper to return the car and take the charges.

Question 17

Will trading cancel my wear-and-tear bill?

Accepted Answer

Usually the dealer handles the payoff and the charges go away, but get it in writing. Verbal assurances are not a payoff.

Question 18

Can I just hand the car back early?

Accepted Answer

Not without a settlement. Returning a car before the end date is treated as an early termination, and the lender will bill the balance their contract allows.

Question 19

Is a lease transfer always allowed?

Accepted Answer

No. It's entirely at the lender's discretion and some don't permit it at all. Ask before you plan around it.

Question 20

Is exiting early ever cheaper than waiting?

Accepted Answer

Sometimes, usually when the car appears to be worth more than the payoff, or when the monthly payment itself is the problem. Treat any comparison as an estimate until the lender confirms the figures.

Lease-end questions, answered.

Ending your lease

What it costs and what we do with your details

Return it: common questions

Buy it: common questions

Trade it: common questions

Exit early: common questions

Ready to see your estimated number?