Tips to Negotiate a Car Lease
Owning a car has its perks. From feasible travelling to having a vehicle at your disposal is a great convenience. New vehicles with some unique features make owning a car all more intriguing. However, car ownership comes with a price tag – a hefty one for a modern vehicle. While not everyone can afford to buy or change vehicles frequently, some options make it possible. Car leasing can be a viable alternative for people looking for budget-friendly options.
Car leasing, like any other process, requires a few considerations to ensure a beneficial deal. We will go through some effective ways to negotiate a car lease and get the best out of the leasing process.
What is Car Leasing?
Car leasing is the process when an individual rents a vehicle from a dealership. The rental duration usually ranges from 24 to 48 months, however, it may vary. Renter pays a monthly fee until the end of the agreement after which they are required to return the vehicle.
Once the leasing period ends, the renter can choose to buy the vehicle or opt for a new car. All in all, car leasing comes with several perks. However, people may get caught up in the dilemma of whether to buy or lease a car.
That said, leasing a car can be a considerable option for people on a budget. Additionally, people who are in the country for a couple of years can opt for a leased car. However, for short-term stays, renting a car in Dubai, Abu Dhabi or any other Emirate can be a viable option.
Tips to Negotiate a Car Lease
As intriguing as leasing a car can be, there are some important considerations for the process. You can find several services to lease a car in Dubai, Abu Dhabi or other cities of the UAE. Additionally, some effective tips can come in handy for negotiating a car lease. A better deal can help you save some money upfront. Let’s go through some effective tips to negotiate car leases and benefit from the vehicle leasing experience.
KNOW THE LEASE TERMS
Knowledge about car terminologies can help you know about vehicles. Similarly, knowing and understanding the leasing terminologies can help negotiate a car lease. The car leasing market has several terminologies different from those used in car buying.
Listed below are some major car leasing terms you should be familiar with:
- Residual value – It refers to the car’s value by the end of the leasing period. Leasing companies may use third-party analysis to determine the value. Several factors come into play for this determination, such as condition, mileage and depreciation.
- Acquisition fee – Also referred to as an assignment fee, is a one-time fee paid to the dealership. This accounts for the cost, time and labour used for creating the leasing agreement.
- Capital cost reduction – This includes any additional amount paid to reduce the overall cost such as incentive discounts, trade credits or any extra down payment.
- Buyout price – It refers to the price you pay to buy the vehicle once the leasing period comes to an end.
- Money factor – Like the interest rate, the money factor is the financing charge you pay for the lease.
Knowing these terms can help you negotiate a car lease as you can have a clear idea about the costs.
COMPARE DIFFERENT LEASE DEALS
When leasing a car in the UAE, it is better to compare the deals rather than finalising the first one. Get quotes from different dealerships and choose the one best suited to your needs. Many dealerships offer special deals such as discounted payments or lease incentives that can be beneficial for buyers.
Additionally, you can use the quotes as leverage to get a better deal from other providers. Dealerships may offer better packages, such as lower interest rates or increased mileage if you present quotes from other sources.
NEGOTIATE WITH THE DEALERS
Once you have found the appropriate dealer with a vehicle you want, it is then time to negotiate the lease. While some portions of the leasing agreement cannot be changed, you can negotiate on certain elements which are listed as follows:
- Buyout price – The buyout price can often be negotiated in the lease. You pay a lesser amount if you decide to buy the vehicle at the end of the lease.
- Mileage allowance – It can be negotiated depending on your needs.
- Lease duration – You can negotiate the lease duration if you want to keep a car longer than the standard duration.
- Money factor – Negotiate with the dealer and this can lead to a lowered interest rate.
- Gross capitalised cost – It refers to the vehicle’s value at the start of the lease. You may negotiate this cost to get lower monthly payments and a better deal.
KNOWING WHAT CAN NOT BE NEGOTIATED
Some portions of a leasing agreement cannot be altered. It is a wise move to know and focus on what to negotiate when leasing a car rather than waste energy on unchangeable aspects. Usually, the following factor cannot be altered in a leasing agreement:
- Residual value
- Acquisition cost
- Disposition fee
- Registration fee
Furthermore, documentation fees can be lowered or revoked. Some dealerships include expenses like advertising fees or freight charges and you can ask for them to be removed as well.
KNOW YOUR NEEDS
One essential thing when learning how to negotiate a car lease is to evaluate your needs. You should have a clear idea about the yearly mileage. Underestimating mileage can result in a big expense at the end of the lease agreement. Car dealerships thoroughly check vehicles for odometer rollback upon vehicle return.
Additionally, it is important to keep vehicle-owning costs in mind. For instance, petrol usage, car insurance, and car maintenance costs. You can also use these figures to get a lower monthly rate.
CHOOSE AN IN-STOCK VEHICLE
For an in-stock vehicle, there is more room for negotiation. On the other hand, if a dealership orders a car, you are pretty much forced to take their offer. Try looking for a car available at a dealership.
You might not get vehicles with modern car tech and designs, but this will make room for negotiations.
These are all the tips to effectively negotiate a car lease. Leasing a car can be a viable and budget-friendly option as compared to buying a vehicle. These effective ways to lease a car can help you greatly during the leasing process.
Additionally, there are other options such as lease-to-own cars in Dubai that make leasing more intriguing. That said, people looking for budget-friendly options can also opt for pre-owned vehicles. Moreover, check out the lease-to-own cars option in Dubai as it is a feasible option for car owners.
These vehicles come with modern features and can ensure longevity. Browse through these used cars for sale in the UAE and select the one best suited for your needs.
Stay tuned to dubizzle’s auto blog for car leasing negotiation tips and more.