Buy vs Lease

Should you buy, or should you lease?

There's benefits to both ways you can get into a new vehicle - weigh your options, and figure out what works best for you.

         LEASE

Leasing offers affordable payments with shorter terms.

Leasing allows you to:

  • Consider vehicles with more options
  • Choose your desired trade cycle
  • Have peace of mind since most terms are within the warranty period

If the vehicle is worth more than the residual value, you can:

  • Exercise your purchase option and keep it
  • Exercise your purchase option and apply the equity to the next vehicle

If the vehicle is worth less than the residual value:

  • Drop off the keys and walk away (subject to any excess kilometers or wear-and-tear charges)

           BUY

Conventional loans typically require longer terms to achieve affordable payments.

This keeps you:

  • From trading into a new vehicle sooner
  • Driving the same vehicle longer even when you are ready to trade.

Conventional loans have obligations when you trade:

  • The owner must find a buyer.
  • The owner assumes all risk of unexpected depreciation.
  • The vehicle's condition, mileage, and wear and tear will be a factor in assessing the total value of the vehicle.
  • The owner must satisfy the loan balance regardless of the vehicle value.

Benefits and Myths to Leasing

LOWER PAYMENTS AND LESS TAX

Leasing gets you in and out quicker for less money down and a lower cost per month. You only have to pay tax on the value of the car you actually used during the life of your lease, saving roughly half the sales tax you would if you had bought the vehicle.

Most people don't want to be making car payments and repair payments at the same time. With a lease, your new car is under the factory warranty coverage so you don't have to worry about budgeting for repairs.

The perfect lease is between 24-48 months, because it gets you out before issues are no longer covered by warranty and before the models change.

According to LeaseGuide.com, 75% of all luxury vehicles are leased, due in part to the avoidance of major banks to finance high-dollar vehicles. Leasing allows you to afford a nicer vehicle than financing makes possible.

At the end of the lease cycle, you simply turn the vehicle in. The dealer will take a report of its condition, and as long as there is no damage, excessive wear and tear or mileage, it's out of your hands. A shorter lease term means more flexibility, you can also take advantage of it sooner. Longer finance terms can leave you in a deficit position until near the end of your term.

The truth is, if you're making loan payments, the vehicle belongs to the bank until the last payment is made. If you often trade in your vehicle before it is paid off, leasing could save you money in the long run.

The truth is, every lease can be tailored to suit your specific needs. Will it see rougher use doe to how or where it is used? We can adjust for that too.

The truth is, a new vehicle starts depreciating as soon as you drive it off the lot. Leasing allows you to minimize your exposure to depreciation, yet still offers you an opportunity to buy it at the end of the lease if it offers good value.

The truth is, leasing gets you in and out quicker for less money down and a lower cost per month. You only have to pay tax on the value of the car you actually used during the life of your lease, saving approximately half of the sales tax you could pay.

The truth is, if you take care of a leased vehicle and return it with reasonable wear and tear, you will be fine. All the details are in the lease agreement, so you know what to expect when you begin. Damage or excessive wear over and above what is acceptable is common sense, so there shouldn't be any surprises.