Car Lease Ending? Expect to Pay More

published 9 May 2019

If you are one of the millions of Americans who leased a new vehicle in 2016, expect a substantial markup if you’re in the market for another lease this year. According to Edmunds, consumers will pay an average of $1,600 more over the life of their lease in 2019 compared with 2016 (leases typically last three years).

The cost is rising for three reasons: New vehicles cost more than they did three years ago; auto-loan interest rates, which are used to calculate lease payments, are at a 10-year high; and resale values have fallen, which inflates the total price you pay over the life of the lease.

If you’re reluctant to pay more to lease a car but want a reasonable monthly payment with some protection against ponying up for unexpected repairs, consider buying a certified pre-owned, or CPO, vehicle. These vehicles have been thoroughly inspected and carry a manufacturer-backed warranty that may offer one-year comprehensive coverage and extend the powertrain warranty to 100,000 miles. Leases have a provision that allows you to buy out the lease. Compare what you’d pay to buy your leased vehicle with the selling price of a CPO vehicle.

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Miriam lived in Toronto, Canada, before joining Kiplinger's Personal Finance in November 2012. Prior to that, she freelanced as a fact-checker for several Canadian publications, including Reader's Digest Canada, Style at Home and Air Canada's enRoute. She received a BA from the University of Toronto with a major in English literature and completed a certificate in Magazine and Web Publishing at Ryerson University.