7 Steps to Getting a Great Auto Lease Deal

  1. Choose cars that hold their value. When you lease a vehicle you are paying for its depreciation, plus interest, tax and some fees. …
  2. Check leasing specials. …
  3. Price the car. …
  4. Get quotes from dealers. …
  5. Spot your best deal. …
  6. Ask for lease payments. …
  7. Close the deal.

Similarly, Is Costco a good place to buy cars?

In theory, yes, it’s a good deal to buy a vehicle through Costco. The pre-negotiated price that Costco Auto Program offers customers a discount off the manufacturer invoice.

Additionally, Why car leasing is a bad idea? The major drawback of leasing is that you don’t acquire any equity in the vehicle. It’s a bit like renting an apartment. You make monthly payments but have no ownership claim to the property once the lease expires. In this case, it means you can’t sell the car or trade it in to reduce the cost of your next vehicle.

Why you should never put money down on a lease?

Another reason to avoid putting any money down is because in most states, you will need to pay taxes on that amount. (If you roll it into the monthly payment, you’ll still pay taxes, but it will be paid off slowly over the life of the lease).

Is it a waste of money to lease a car?

With leasing, you don’t have any ownership rights to the car. … You don’t normally earn equity when you lease, typically because what you owe on the car only catches up to its value at the end of a lease. This could be viewed as a waste of money by some, since you’re not gaining equity.

Does buying a car through Costco save money?

A Costco representative told Business Insider in 2018 that Costco members saved an average of over $1,000 off the average price of a vehicle when using the program, and members can also get a 15% discount on parts, service, and accessories at participating service centers.

What state is the cheapest to buy a car?

Overall, New Hampshire is the cheapest state to buy a car, since registration fees are low and sales tax non-existent. Florida is the second cheapest state to buy a car, and the state has a wonderful inventory. In fact, cars cost around ten percent less than the average.

What should you not say to a car salesman?


10 Things You Should Never Say to a Car Salesman

  • “I really love this car” …
  • “I don’t know that much about cars” …
  • “My trade-in is outside” …
  • “I don’t want to get taken to the cleaners” …
  • “My credit isn’t that good” …
  • “I’m paying cash” …
  • “I need to buy a car today” …
  • “I need a monthly payment under $350”

What are disadvantages of leasing a car?


8 Biggest Disadvantages to Leasing a Car

  1. Expensive in the Long Run. …
  2. Limited Mileage. …
  3. High Insurance Cost. …
  4. Confusing. …
  5. Hard to Cancel. …
  6. Requires Good Credit. …
  7. Lots of Fees. …
  8. No Customizations.

Is car leasing ever a good idea?

If you put less than 15,000 miles per year on your car, leasing might be a good option. Mileage is a crucial element in determining your car’s resale value. A vehicle driven only 10,000 to 12,000 miles per year will be worth a lot more than a car that sees 15,000 to 20,000 miles on its odometer annually.

Is it a bad idea to lease?

Leasing a car has potential benefits that may appeal to some drivers: Lower monthly payments: Monthly payments for a car lease are usually lower than monthly car loan payments, so leasing could mean spending less money each month to drive the same car. … When you lease, upon the end date, you simply return the vehicle.

Is it bad to put money down on a lease?

Putting money down on a car lease isn’t typically required unless you have bad credit. If you aren’t required to make a down payment on a lease, you generally shouldn’t. … Whether you make a down payment or not, the overall amount you pay doesn’t change. However, putting money down does reduce your monthly payment.

What happens to the money you put down on a lease?

What Happens to the Down Payment on a Leased Car? … So, when you put money down on a car lease, you essentially pre-pay for the lease and reduce the monthly payment. It may feel like you’re saving money by making a down payment, but in reality, you’re just pre-paying the depreciation and interest charges.

How much money should you put down on a leased car?

Leases also typically have less money due at signing – like a down payment – than financing a car does. To get the best rate when financing a car, many lenders will want you to come up with 20 percent of the car’s value as a down payment to get the best rate (though no-money-down car loans are available).

Is leasing a car ever a good idea?

When You Should Lease Rather Than Buy

Leasing a car can make more sense than an outright purchase under a specific set of circumstances. The most significant factor is your average annual vehicle miles. If you put less than 15,000 miles per year on your car, leasing might be a good option.

Is it better to finance or lease a car?

In general, leasing payments are lower than finance payments. When you lease, you’re not paying for the entire vehicle but rather the value you use up for the time you’re driving it. In the short term, based solely on monthly payments, it’s typically cheaper to lease than to finance.

Is it cheaper to order a car from the factory?

All things considered equal, ordered vehicles cost no more than vehicles in dealer stock and, in some cases, may actually cost less. … Moreover, the dealership pays interest on stocked vehicles at a predetermined monthly rate to the manufacturer.

Do you get a discount if you pay cash for a car?

Paying cash can get you discounts.

That means that zero interest isn’t free. Cash gets you the discount price, which is the cost you pay for taking advantage of zero percent financing. And when you pay cash, you may even be able to negotiate a better price, particularly on a used car.

Does shopping at Costco save money?

Though the cost-per-unit of bulk items are tempting, Costco’s annual fee won’t pay off if you aren’t stocking up regularly. “Even though you may have saved money on the price per unit, you’ll end up spending less and wasting less by buying a smaller package at another store,” Rossi says.

What state has the best car prices?

New Hampshire is the overall best state to purchase a car. New Hampshire has relatively low unexpected fees for purchasing a car. You can save on upfront costs by the lack of state sales taxes and low registration fees. Insurance premiums are relatively low in the state as well at around $941 per year.

What city is the cheapest to buy a car?

The cheapest city to buy a used car might surprise you, as its cost of living is pretty high. However, Miami, Florida comes in as the cheapest city for used cars. Rounding out the top 5 cheapest cities for used cars are Cleveland, Ohio; Akron, Ohio; Stamford, Connecticut; and New York, New York.

What states should you not buy a used car from?

But, before you go jumping over state lines for your next car, there are a few things you should know about buying out of state.




In general, all states that make up the west coast have the strictest smog laws as well as:

  • Arizona.
  • Connecticut.
  • Maine.
  • Maryland.
  • New Jersey.
  • New Mexico.
  • New York.
  • Pennsylvania.

How do you outsmart a car salesman?


Car Buying Tips To Outsmart Dealerships

  1. Forget Payments, Talk Price. Dealers will try selling you to a payment per month rather than the price of a car. …
  2. Control Your Loan. …
  3. Avoid Advertised Car Deals. …
  4. Don’t Feel Pressured. …
  5. Keep Clear Of Add-ons.

What should you not do at a car dealership?


7 Things Not to Do at a Car Dealership

  1. Don’t Enter the Dealership without a Plan. …
  2. Don’t Let the Salesperson Steer You to a Vehicle You Don’t Want. …
  3. Don’t Discuss Your Trade-In Too Early. …
  4. Don’t Give the Dealership Your Car Keys or Your Driver’s License. …
  5. Don’t Let the Dealership Run a Credit Check.

What should I tell a car salesman?


10 Things You Should Say To A Car Salesmen

  • “Can I take the car for another test drive?”
  • “I’ll pay cash.” …
  • “If you sell me the car for this price, I’ll buy it right now.” …
  • “I know the deal is done. …
  • “I don’t have a credit card.” …
  • “I like this car. …
  • “I need to have my trade-in appraised.” …