Buying Your Car at the End of a Lease (A Simple Guide)

Buying your car at the end of a lease? Here's what you need to know so you can get the best deal and avoid any issues that could end up breaking your bank.

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★ Attribution ★

Hi, I’m Geoff Cudd, the creator behind Find The Best Car Price. I’m saddened at how difficult it is to simply buy a car. I don’t know how anyone can get a fair deal without a lot of homework and jumping through hoops. The auto industry does so much to confuse buyers that it’s almost criminal.

Buying a car should be like buying electronics online. You should be able to do a quick search for the best price, pay, and be on your way. Instead, you have to haggle with salesmen over price, financing, trade-in, warranties, and a bunch of other options and it’s hard to tell when someone is taking advantage of you.

The good news is that car prices are slowly becoming more transparent and there are steps you can take to get a good deal. That’s why I created this website. In my free guide, I explain exactly what you need to do to buy a car at the best price possible. I also scour the web to publish the best car deals and leasing offers every month.

I truly hope you save big money and have a good experience during your next car purchase. A lot of sweat went into creating this website, so if you found it useful please show your support by sharing it with your friends.

I leased my '17 Audi A4 for 3 years. When the lease ended I had only 14k miles on the car, it was pristine and I compared the residual to market pricing. I had no issues, so I bought it. I just paid it off last month and plan on keeping it for many years to come. I have spent so much over the years in buying/leasing new cars... sometimes every year... it feels good not to spend so much to have the latest design.

[zeeeeb]

I have a question: the dealer quoted my buyout price at 14k when my residual value was 11k. What are my options from here? Should I try to negotiate? Is it still worth it to keep the car? Sorry in advance, but I am really confused.

[somoshumanos.]

What if the residual value is 14000, and the price of the car in the markets is higher like 19, 800, is it good deal to buy it?

[cm]

Why in the heck would you be made to negotiate a car price 3 years in the future?

[paulbennett]

Jeff how do I buy a lease vehicle from a friend or relative, should I work through the dealer or go to the bank?

[lunabird]

So the car I want is 20k . I put down 5k . And leased for 36months at 159$ . How much would I buy it for after 3 years ???

[tiagoshade]

Hey Jeff. If my lease is 3 years and 36k miles and close to the end I decide to buy it, but the car has 120k miles, do I have to pay any penalties for expiring the mileage?

[UncleWill]

Hi Jeff. Great video. I'm at the end of my lease on a 2019 Mazda 3 hatchback in great condition with only 6600 miles on it. The residual on the car is 13, 6 and market value is 22, 9 right now. was going to considering buying then selling and then i was going to consider trading it in and getting a new lease but i decided to purchase it. Not going thru dealer just going thru chase auto and paying it off with no payments. if i go thru chase auto and not the dealer i cannot get an extended warranty thoughts on this? Thank you. appreciate your response.

[stephancunningham]

Is your car worth buying?

Idk you tell me, is a 2019/2020 Dodge Charger GT worth buying??

[BK_sr]

the lease payments are usually hundreds less and month even half of financing straight up. For eg my car was, $36g was $400 a month to lease OR $729 to finance for 48months 0% offer. I got $4300 for my old car and that covered downpayment to reduce lease amt and taxes, dmv fees, etc. Got it for $269 month lease the like 22g after to buy and own. OR would have been $629 to finance for 48months with the 4300 off. I can't afford the 629, 269 no prob. If I crash the car or bad accident and insurance fixes it back "looking normal", the dealer has no choice but to accept the repaired car with accident on record after 3years. If i own it well I own it and gotta get stuck with the payments and depreciation if i need to sell.

[wayneC]

My dealership adding about $3000 to the payout at the end of lease. Dealer fee $899, Sub Tax 499, title transfer $300 + taxes. I understand the taxes but all that other crap

[danielamaning]

hey jeff i just lease a Mazda cx50 23 but i intend to buy it after the least unfortunately I cannot find the residual value on the contract what do i do

[royalgreenlantern]

In 2020 I leased a Chevy blazer listed at 49k. 24 month lease. It ends in FEb my buyout right now id 33k and my car is worth 45k So I’m about to find financing to purchase the car now

[yayonasal]

My 2-3 year lease ends in a few months and i just got a mail from the dealership willing to pay “110%black book value”. Leased it new and absolute mint condition. Is the correct move to buy out the car and resell it to the dealership? Is that the right move?

[wendyruiz]

I’m actually about to return my lease tomorrow and have been considering wether to keep the car. I’m just not sure why if I have the contact and it shows me one amount for the buy out why the dealer is charging me an additional $500 that doesn’t state anywhere what that charge is for and the dealer only tells me it’s a whole processing fee.

[Reckless]

Quick question for anyone I know the answer please when I go ahead and turn my three-year lease in and I decide to go ahead and finance it would they give me the option to finance it for three years or is it six years ? thank you

[Syn-gmyw]

How does it work if the residual value is lower than current worth?

[MtnMania]

Does your lease payments substract from the buyout price? Or are lease payments just like renting that you lose forever

[mialrae]

I’ll never understand paying a whole lease jus to have to re buy the car

[knives]

Is the buyout near the price of the car when u lease it?