There are a few moving pieces involved with ending a car lease, and the total time to process your transaction can vary depending on who your auto lender is and what state you live in. However, it usually takes less than 15 minutes to get started - after that, our expert advisors take over and expedite the entire process for you.

There are 3 ways you can end a car lease. You can turn the car back in to the dealership, sell the car , or buy and keep the car. If your lease is bought out, you're taking either the second or third option (selling the car, or buying it for yourself).

Your leased car has a pre-determined residual value (the value of the car at the end of the lease). This value was established in your contract when you first agreed to lease, and it helps determine the payoff amount (the amount it would cost to purchase the vehicle so the manufacturer no longer holds the title). Every lender has their own specific way of calculating payoff amount, but generally speaking, it's more or less equal to the sum of the residual value plus any applicable taxes and fees.

If you're leasing a car and decide that you want to keep it, you can buy out your lease, meaning you're purchasing the car and putting it in your name. If you decide you can make some money off your lease and want to sell it, someone else may be able to purchase the car and put it in their name. Either way, the car's new owner will have to pay the payoff amount, either up front or through financing, in order to transfer ownership of the car from the manufacturer.

No, that's not true.

Manufacturers want customers to come back into the dealership at the end of their lease so they can try to convince a customer to let go of their current car and get back into another leased vehicle. With the recent increase in used car values, big leasing companies are desperately trying to hold on to the equity lease owners have in their vehicles. Unless it’s stated directly on your original lease contract (which is very rare), you do not have to go back to your dealer to buy out your lease. You may be told by dealers or your leasing company you have to work through them, but that's just the auto industry being shady.

We can't change a lease-end date (or the inevitable need to make a big decision about it). What we can do is provide lease owners with the expert tools, technology, and advisory services to make a quick and informed decision about ending their car lease. Then, we assist our customers with the entire lease payoff process so they feel good about the outcome. This includes arranging financing, titling and registration (in most states), and offering extended coverage to protect your “new” investment.

Check out how the process works here.

Your payoff amount is provided by the current lienholder and is calculated using the residual value for your car established in your original lease contract, plus any remaining customer obligations.

When you work with us, you'll need to confirm your exact payoff amount with your lender, but don't worry - we provide assistance and instructions on how to do this.

Your leasing company (or the manufacturer) does technically own your leased vehicle, but you have a right to buy out your vehicle as long as your contract allows for it (most do).