Domestic Short Term Car Leasing

There may be circumstances in life where you will need a vehicle for a certain period of time, and don't want to get locked into a long-term payment. For example, you may have a temporary job opportunity, or have a family situation that requires use of a car. Depending on your situation, short term car leasing may be the best and most affordable solution.

Long term car rentals are often the proper step if you need to drive a vehicle for just a short period of time. Renting a vehicle though, can quickly get expensive, even with long-term rental discounts. However, if you will only need the vehicle for six months or less, renting is probably your best option.

If you are looking to keep a vehicle for a longer period of time, short term leasing is usually the most affordable if the duration is between 6-24 months. Unfortunately, this is usually not a possibility if you are looking to lease a new car from a dealer. Most new car leases are at least 24 months or longer, so going directly to the dealer for a new car lease will only be a choice if you can commit to something more permanent.

The best solution for a 6-24 month use is a short term car lease. You will actually be be taking over, or assuming a lease, on a used vehicle from another driver. You'll take over the auto, the monthly payments, and the time that is left on the lease, which can usually be from a few months to 2-3 years.

Short term leases are often great bargains. Unlike a new lease, you will not have to come up with any sort of down payment or additional fees, you will just take over the payments each month. However, you may be charged at the end of the lease for excessive mileage, so its important you become familiar with the leasing contract and the vehicle condition before you agree to take over the lease.

Assuming a lease, even for a short duration, does require completing and changing the existing lease contract through the leasing company. Although you may need the vehicle relatively quickly, make sure all the paperwork is complete before you take the vehicle, in order to avoid any trouble.

The best place to find short term car leasing is on the Internet. There are a handful of specialized companies that match buyers and leaseholders together, and help facilitate the transfer of the vehicle. By going through a third party company, you will have to pay a small fee, but you will increase your chances of getting a good lease deal and having the transfer done properly.

Short term leasing may be the best way to meet your driving needs, especially if your finances do not allow for a large down payment. If you are in a situation where you need to drive a vehicle for 6-24 months, you will probably get a great deal going through a company that specializes in lease assumptions and transfers. By doing some research online, you should be able to find plenty of lease deals.

Questions to Ask Before Leasing a Car

You've already made the decision to lease a car over buying and it's great that you've figured out which option is best for you. But it's still a commitment and you should know exactly how to approach car leasing companies. You don't want to enter into a lease without getting all the answers you need before hand. The last thing you want is to sign and lease and be hit with fees or information you didn't know about before hand. These are some questions you should ask when getting into car leasing deals.

How long is the lease?

The first question you should ask is how long the lease will be for the contract you are signing. It's usually in 12 month increments from 24 months and on. But sometimes it is an odd number, so you'll want to be absolutely certain how long you signing on.

What is the amount due when the lease is signed?

The over all amount can be made up of various fees, security deposits, registration fees and the like. Make sure the leaser is upfront with costs from the get go. If you feel like they are trying to hide something, it may be time to check out a different company.

Are there mileage restrictions when leasing a car?

Leases often restrict how many miles a year you can use, since the car is not technically yours. Ask how many miles you are allowed and if you can increase the number of miles. Doing so usually requires either an upfront fee or a per-mile fee when the lease is over.

What falls in the realm of "wear and tear"?

Leases usually come with certain liabilities, like excessive wear and tear being something you'll have to take care of or pay extra charges for. Ask the leaser exactly what falls into the realm of this so that you can be certain of what is expected of you.

What happens at the end of the term of car leases?

This depends on the kind of lease you are under, an open-end or close-end lease. A close-end lease lets you either return the car and pay any costs due. Or you can buy the car at the residual value that was stated when you started your lease. An open-end lease is not as common. At the end of the lease if the car isn't worth the residual value, you pay the difference.

What is the fee for returning the car before the end of the lease?

There usually is a fee to return the car early. You should know ahead of time how much it'll be, but more often than not it's a pretty large sum. Make sure it's something worth paying if you need to return the car early for any reason.

No matter who you go to or what car you are looking to lease, make sure you have this list of questions and any others handy. You'll feel more confident entering in a contract when you know all the little details ahead of time.