4 Tips on Maintaining a Leased Car

February 17, 2020

There are many benefits to leasing a vehicle. Monthly payments and down payment are usually lower, and you'll be able to drive a new car in a few years when the lease is up. But when it comes to keeping your leased Subaru well maintained and in good shape, there are some things it's important to know. We'll go over four tips below. Feel free to talk to one of our finance and lease specialists if you have other questions!

4. Understand the Contract Before You Sign

Your lease contract will have valuable information about service and maintenance. While leasing a new car means that it will be under warranty, there are still other things to consider. For example: who pays for regular scheduled maintenance? If that responsibility falls to you, you can see if the lease can be adjusted to include the price of maintenance in your monthly payments, or you could simply pay when you bring the car in for service.

Another important thing to understand is what counts as regular wear and tear and what doesn't. Most lease agreements will absolve you of charges for regular wear and tear, but the precise definition of what that means can be the difference between your having to pay extra or not at the end of the lease.

3. Don't Skip Service Appointments

Whether you're leasing a vehicle or you own it, it's always wise to get regularly scheduled maintenance at the right intervals. But failing to do so when you lease a vehicle may end up costing you even more. Many leases make it necessary for you to keep all maintenance records, and failure to do so may cost you extra when the lease is up.

2. Stick to the Mileage

Lease agreements will have an agreed-upon number of miles that you can travel in your vehicle. Traveling above these limits can cost you at the end of the lease. In fact, many lease agreements will have you pay by the mile if you go over the limit. But, in addition to those charges, it may mean that you have to pay even more for service. After all, driving the car a few thousand miles above the limit means that you'll also have to get an extra oil change.

1. Treat It Like a Rental

Many of the tips on driving a leased vehicle boil down to this, and it makes sense. After all, a lease really is like a long-term rental. Think of how carefully you treat rental cars, and apply that same level of care to your leased vehicle. In addition to saving you money at the end of your lease term, driving this way may keep you safer, as well!