10 Things To Know About Car Leasing

Expert advice on repair, maintenance and gear.

- Rick Muscoplat

Leasing can be a great way to get a new car or truck every two or three years and never have to worry about repair bills. The down payment and monthly payments are lower than buying, making leasing initially more affordable. In addition to the joy of driving a new car, the lower payments allow you to drive a car or truck you couldn’t otherwise afford. As long as you take care of the car and don’t drive more than 12,000 miles per year, you can walk away at the end of the lease and try a different make and model next time. Over the long run, leasing always costs more than buying. But if you follow the tips we list here, you can avoid the most common leasing mistakes and even beat the deals you find in the leasing ads.

1. Choose models for reliability

and resale Lease a make and model with a reputation for reliability and high resale value to get a lower monthly payment. Rare or trendy cars depreciate quickly, and you pay for all that depreciation. Go online and check resale values before choosing a vehicle.

2. Negotiate the “cap” cost