Automobiles such as cars, pickup trucks, and jeeps are a staple of adult life in the United States and beyond, and for most, getting their own first car is a sort of rite of passage. A car owner may take great pride in their vehicle, and spend a great deal of money on repairs, maintenance, or upgrades on their machine. Car makers such as Chevrolet, Cadillac, Toyota, and many others offer various models for customers at dealerships around the world, and in the United States, someone looking for a Chevy may find a local dealership with an Internet search query such as “Chevrolet dealers in Michigan”, or “Cadillac dealers in Michigan” for those with Cadillacs in mind, or “Nissan dealers Boston MA.” Buying new and used cars each have their advantages and perks, but a third option exists that some young adults may not be aware of: getting a lease for a car, and lease deals can be had at many different dealers today. A lease can be very convenient in many cases, and some people may vastly prefer a lease over buying an entire car, based on their budget or their lifestyle. Used cars and new cars alike may be available for lease.

Getting a Car Lease

The auto market is massive, and many statistics are kept of its transactions and rats of car ownership. On average, a vehicle may have three owners in its lifetime, and used cars can be a great deal; after all, between dealership sales and private-party sales, some 40 million used cars change hands per year, and this number may increase into the future. In fact, research by the IHS Markit has shown that about 20 million vehicles on the road by the yer 2021 will 25 years old or more. But car leases are another strong option for those who don’t want to buy a new car.

How can someone get a lease? To begin with, someone interested in such a deal should, as mentioned above, conduct an online search for local dealers that offer leases, and if so desired, the customer can look for dealers of particular brands. The customer should also visit the dealer and look over the cars available in person, but not yet mention that they are looking for a lease, and instead act as a regular customer. Someone looking for a car lease should also be aware that the lease’s expenses are based partly on the discrepancy between the car’s original and its current value, and the bigger the gap, the more expensive the lease. For this reason, cars that depreciate slowly (some brands are known for this) are a better deal for leases overall, and will cost less.

Nearly all car dealers offer on-site financing services for their customers’ convenience and to help make a sale, and dealers may often work with five to 10 different banks or loan providers to stay competitive, and this includes leases. The customer can settle on a car that they want to lease, and then go through the paperwork with the dealer to get the lease set up. A lease means that the owner will be effectively renting the car for a set time, often a few years, and their use of the car will lower its value just the way other cars lose value as they are used (such as building up miles on the odometer). This may be convenient for those unwilling to buy an expensive new car or those who plan to drive for only a few years anyway before a lifestyle change would make a car unneeded.

A leased car may need repairs or tuning like any other car, and the owner can get everyday damage such as a busted headlight or scratched paint taken care of at a garage, especially one that is for that car’s brand. Touch up paint jobs may vary in cost but will fix any patches or scratches on the paint job, and crews may also refill brake fluid or change the oil, and they can fix the brake pads or rotate the tires or any other needed service on a leased car. A leased car can be kept in good shape and dealer are bound to appreciate it.