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Close-End Vehicle Lease

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Closed-end leases, sometimes called "walk-away" leases, are most common for consumer leases today. This type of lease allows you to simply return your vehicle at the end of the lease and have no other responsibilities other than possible payment of excessive damage or mileage charges.

Closed-end leases are based on the concept that the number of miles you drive annually is fairly predictable (12,000 miles per year is typical), that the vehicle will not be driven in rough or abusive conditions, and that its value at the end of the lease (the residual) is therefore somewhat predictable.

At the time you lease, the leasing company estimates the vehicle's lease-end residual value based on the expected number of driven miles. If the vehicle is actually worth less than the residual when you turn it in, the leasing company takes the financial hit, not you.

On the other hand, if the vehicle is worth more than the residual, and you have the option to purchase, you may want to buy the vehicle, then keep driving it or sell it and make a profit. This happens frequently.

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