Finding the Best Car Lease

Keep the following guidelines in mind as you prepare to negotiate a deal for a car lease:

Know what you need: Create a checklist of features you need in a vehicle and those you don’t
care about. If you are a member of a car pool, for example, you need a backseat, if not a roomy
stowage area.
Compare cars: Review models of cars online that fill your needs. Which features are standard?
Which features are pricey extras? What is the typical mileage? Ratings? Safety?
Visit dealerships: With a good sense of what you need and what’s available, request a test drive
in your preferred vehicle. Ask the salesperson questions about the car and leasing in general. Do
the same thing at more than one dealership.
Compare options: Compare what you learned from visiting dealerships. Does one offer a better
leasing arrangement than another? Does one offer better service than another?
Negotiate the deal: Return to your preferred dealer. You can negotiate the monthly lease
payments, even if the amount is well advertised. Review the terms of the lease carefully and ask
questions about terms and penalties.