Is Leasing a Used Car a Good Idea?

Many consumers assume leasing is only for new cars, what they overlook is that leasing is simply an alternative method of financing.

Leasing works exactly the same with a used car as it does with a new car - the main difference is that your monthly lease payment will likely be a lot less.

The biggest part of a lease payment is attributed to depreciation cost. Since cars depreciate heavily during the first 2 to 3 years, it makes sense to take advantage of the situation by leasing a used car and taking a smaller hit on the depreciation.

The only problem - used car leasing has always been harder to find. Many banks and financing companies have historically been hesitant about this market, so your options are more limited compared to new car leasing.

Your best bet may be to look into leasing a certified pre-owned car through a dealership. They can try to arrange the lease through one of their finance partners or through a credit union. You can also check with local banks and credit unions directly to see if they offer used car leasing.

Assuming you're able to find a company that will lease a used car, here are some steps you should take to make sure you get a good deal:

Compare Used vs New Lease

The first thing you should always do is compare the cost of leasing a used car with the cost of leasing the current year model. Sometimes manufacturers' lease offers on their new cars will make it so that the cost to lease new is almost the same as leasing used. You'll find this more with lower-cost vehicles such as the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla.

Lease a Late Model Vehicle

When leasing a used car, you don't want to lease something that is too old and has the potential to require expensive repairs. Generally, you should be looking at 2 to 3 year old vehicles, ideally ones that are still under warranty or are certified used cars that come with extended warranties. The last thing you want are large repair bills on a car that you don't even own.

Get a Vehicle Inspection

Make sure you get the car fully inspected by a qualified mechanic or inspection service before leasing. If the car has problems, make sure the current owner fixes them before you agree to lease.

One good alternative to leasing a used car is to do a lease takeover. Companies such as SwapALease.com and LeaseTrader.com offer a marketplace where people desperate to get out of their leases hook up with people wanting low-cost leases. In many cases, the person wanting to get out of the lease is willing to offer cash incentives, so it's definitely worth checking out.