What are my end of lease options?

Common end of lease options include trading in your lease, selling it (if third-party buyouts are allowed), using a pull-ahead program, turning it in at lease end, extending month to month, or buying out the lease.

When should I start planning for the end of my lease?

Start planning about 3–6 months before your lease ends. This gives you time to compare your payoff to market value, estimate any mileage or wear fees, and explore next-car options without pressure.

Can I sell my leased car to CarMax or Carvana?

Sometimes. It depends on whether your leasing company allows third-party buyouts. Some brands allow them while others restrict them, which can limit your ability to sell the vehicle to outside retailers.

What is a lease payoff or buyout amount?

The payoff (or buyout) is the amount required to purchase your leased vehicle. Comparing the payoff to the vehicle’s current market value helps you understand whether you have equity, a wash, or negative equity.

What happens if I go over my lease mileage?

If you exceed your contracted mileage, you may owe an excess mileage charge at lease end (often billed per mile). You may also owe a disposition fee and charges for wear and tear, depending on the vehicle’s condition.

What is a lease disposition fee?

A disposition fee is a charge many lenders assess when you return a leased vehicle. It is often waived if you lease or buy another vehicle from the same manufacturer, but policies vary by brand and program.

Can I turn in my lease early?

You can, but early turn-in typically means you are responsible for remaining payments and any end-of-lease fees. In some cases, a dealer may structure a new purchase or lease to help cover some of those costs.

What is a pull-ahead program?

A pull-ahead program is when a manufacturer waives a few remaining lease payments if you lease or buy another vehicle with them. Mileage and wear charges usually still apply, and program availability changes over time.

Can I extend my lease month to month?

Often, yes. Many lenders allow a month-to-month extension after the scheduled lease end. Your mileage allowance may also extend, but your warranty does not automatically extend, so confirm coverage and terms.

Should I buy out my leased car?

A lease buyout can make sense if you like the car and the buyout price is competitive compared to market value. It may not be a good fit if the vehicle is worth less than the buyout, has major accident history, or better-value alternatives exist.

End of Lease Options: What to Do 1–6 Months Before Your Car Lease Ends

Heather Boyle
1 day ago
5 min read

If your car lease is ending in the next three to six months, this is the moment to pause and get your bearings. Not panic. Not automatically lease another car because the dealership texted you. Not buy out your current car only to avoid the dealership or new car shopping! Just take a breath and understand your options.

Most people think there are only three end-of-lease choices: turn the car in, lease another one, often from the same manufacturer or dealer or buy their current leased car.

That’s not true. You actually have more flexibility than you’ve probably been told, especially if you understand how value, mileage, and manufacturer rules work behind the scenes.

Let’s walk through your real end-of-lease options, from the obvious ones to the more creative ones, and when each actually makes sense.

Start Here: Understand Your Lease Situation

Row of parked dark blue cars on a paved lot, reflecting sunlight. The setting is outdoors on a sunny day. — Multiple new cars by the same manufacturer in a row waiting to be purchased.

End of Lease Options You Have 3–6 Months Before Your Car Lease Ends

Before you decide what to do, you need a few basic numbers. This step gets skipped all the time, and it’s why people end up frustrated or overpaying. You want to know:

Your lease payoff or buyout amount
What your car is worth right now
Where you stand on mileage and condition

Those three things tell you whether you have equity, whether it’s a wash, or whether you’re upside down.

It also matters who your lease is through. Some manufacturers allow third-party buyouts and some don’t. That one rule determines whether you can sell your car to CarMax or Carvana, or trade it into a different brand.

Mileage is another big piece. Here’s a quick example I use with clients all the time.

Let’s say you’re already 1,000 miles over and you drive about 1,000 miles per month. If you have three months left, you’ll likely be 4,000 miles over by the end. At twenty cents per mile, that’s an $800 bill. Add a typical disposition fee of around $350, plus any wear and tear, and suddenly the “easy” option isn’t so easy. This math should guide every decision that follows.

Option 1: Trade In or Sell Your Lease Early

If your leasing company allows third-party buyouts and your car is worth close to or more than the payoff, selling or trading it early can make sense.

You may be able to:

Sell it to a retailer like CarMax or Carvana
Trade it in toward a different brand
Use any equity toward your next car

This usually works best if your mileage is under control and the car is in good shape. If your manufacturer restricts third-party buyouts, your options narrow quickly. That’s intentional.

Why Manufacturers Make This So Complicated

Manufacturers want you to stay with them. Period. To make that happen, they often:

Waive the lease disposition fee for returning customers
Waive security deposits on the next lease
Offer loyalty bonuses or rebates
Block third-party buyouts so you can’t easily leave
Offer Pull-Ahead programs

It’s annoying. The whole appeal of leasing is flexibility, yet this is where it gets limited. Knowing this ahead of time helps you make informed choices instead of feeling like you have limited ones.

Option 2: Pull-Ahead Programs

Some manufacturers offer pull-ahead programs where they waive your last three to six lease payments if you lease or buy another vehicle from them.

This can be appealing if you already like the brand and want something new sooner.

Important details people miss:

Mileage and damage still apply
It’s treated like a normal lease turn-in
You have to stay with the same manufacturer

This is not free money, but it can be useful in the right situation.

Option 3: Turn It In Early and Roll Costs Into a New Deal

This is one of the more creative options, and it happens all the time. Contractually, if you turn your lease in early, you owe the remaining payments, the disposition fee, and any excess mileage or wear and tear.

In practice, if you are leasing or buying another car, a dealer may be able to structure the new deal in a way that covers those costs using profit from the new vehicle.

Sometimes that works out fine. Sometimes it hides how expensive the new deal actually is. This is where transparency matters a lot.

Option 4: Keep It Until the End and Walk Away

This is the cleanest and most straightforward option. You make your final payment, turn the car in, and you’re done. You’ll receive a bill for any remaining mileage, damage, or disposition fee, minus your security deposit if you paid one.

After that, you’re free to lease or buy anything you want, anywhere you want.

This works well if you want a reset or you’re ready to move away from leasing altogether.

Option 5: Extend Your Lease Month to Month

Lease extensions are surprisingly helpful and very underused. Most lenders allow month-to-month extensions, and your mileage usually extends too. On a 12,000-mile-per-year lease, that’s about 1,000 extra miles per month.

This can be a great option if:

You’re too busy to deal with everything right now
You’re waiting for a new model or redesign
You need time to research without pressure

One important note. Your warranty does not extend. This works best if the car is reliable.

Option 6: Buy Out Your Lease

This is the option people ask about the most, and it’s also the most misunderstood.

In many cases, leasing and then buying the car costs more than financing it from the beginning. You’ve paid lease fees, interest, and now you’re buying the car at a predetermined residual price that may or may not reflect reality.

I generally do not recommend buying out a lease if:

The car is worth less than the buyout
The car has been in a major accident
A newer version is a much better value
The car needs immediate repairs such as brakes and tires

If you really want to buy it, call the leasing company directly. You do not have to go to the dealer. Ask if the buyout price is negotiable (if it's higher than market value) and be prepared to show market data.

If you need financing, check with a credit union before accepting a manufacturer rate unless it’s truly competitive. And don't forget to budget for taxes and registration fees.

If you’re considering an extended warranty, ask whether it can be purchased directly through the leasing company or negotiated separately. Warranty pricing at dealerships often has significant markup.

Final Thoughts: Let This Be What Drives Your Decision

At the end of a lease, it doesn't have to be a foregone conclusion you will lease a newer version of the vehicle you're in or simply buy your current lease out. It’s a car-buying decision point, like any other.

When you understand your numbers and your options, you can get the most value for your investment, make smarter timing decisions, and choose what actually fits your life right now. My best advice is to let what kind of car you want next drive you, not what the dealership tells you to do or the manufacturer expects.

If you’re not sure which option makes the most sense for your situation, that’s normal. It's confusing and this is exactly where having a second set of trained eyes can save you money and stress.

For personalized help reviewing your end-of-lease options, you can explore deal reviews and coaching here: https://www.carbuyerforhire.com/services-pricing