When it Comes to Car Leasing, Details Matter

Congratulations! You have found the car of your dreams. That Audi A4 in scuba blue metallic is a real head turner, but it may also be beyond your ability to make monthly payments. And that is where car leasing comes in: by leasing your car instead of choosing a bank loan, your monthly payments will come in lower. Where the Audi A4 may have once been beyond your reach, you can now grab the keys, get behind the wheel and drive off.

Before you sign your lease agreement there are some matters to consider. Read on and we will discuss how to make car leasing a viable option for you.

1. Negotiate. As you would with any new car deal, you should negotiate the price of the Audi A4 or other vehicle that interests you. Once you settle on a price, then you will begin to discuss your financing options. You can also arrange financing independently, so keep this point in mind.

2. Open-end leasing. Not that common, but still offered is open-end leasing. Under this arrangement, the amount you owe at the end of the lease term requires you to make one final or balloon payment, representing the difference between the residual and market value of your car. In other words, you are required to purchase the vehicle at lease end, typically for an inflated price. This option is usually exercised by commercial lease customers, not public customers.

3. Closed-end leasing. Choose a closed-end car lease if you want to walk away from your vehicle at end of lease term. That does not mean that you may walk away without being assessed with additional charges. Excess wear and tear, and mileage overage costs may become a factor. You can also exercise the option to buy the vehicle, an especially attractive option if the residual value comes in lower than its published market value. That price is also negotiable, therefore you can offer to pay a different amount.

4. Your money. Whichever lease option you choose for your Audi, you will need to have money on hand to close the deal. Expect to pay a security deposit, your first and last month’s lease payment and perhaps an acquisition fee for processing your loan. You may have to pay sales tax and you are responsible registration, license tags and title fees. Some fees can be negotiated or even eliminated. Ask to have your documentation fee waived, typically a dealer charge that you do not need to pay.

5. Lease payments. You will be making monthly payments to the car leasing company throughout the lease term. Your payments are based on a number of factors included the car’s anticipated depreciation. Use a loan calculator to determine your monthly payments. Know your costs up front before signing your lease agreement. Make sure that the final agreement reflects the changes you negotiated.

Lease Considerations

Keep in mind that if you terminate your lease early, you will still be responsible for your payments. When leasing a car, you generally are not allowed to customize it and you are required to have sufficient insurance. The credit requirements for car leasing are typically tougher than regular financing, therefore make sure that your credit score is very good or excellent to obtain the best leasing terms for your Audi or other car possible.

Finally, consider a lease that is no longer than the car’s original warranty. Longer term leases or those that go beyond the car’s warranty can expose you to additional costs. Fortunately, a car like the Audi A4 comes with four-year or 50,000-mile limited warranty, offering the protection you need for the typical three-year car lease.

Author Information
Contract hire sales executive David Gillon, works for www.frontierleasing.co.uk. He is a car finance expert who regularly blogs about car leasing and the benefit of contract hire versus. buying a car for business or individuals.