Is a High-Mileage Lease Right for Me?

Do You Need More Than a Standard Lease?

Image shows a person looking at a car and contemplating signing a lease. Text reads: "Is a high mileage lease right for you? A high mileage lease is usually 18,000-20,000 miles. You will make higher monthly lease payments. Allows you to drive further without racking up over-the-limit mile fees. If you drive a lot, a high mileage lease is worth it."
Photo:

The Balance / Hilary Allison

Getting a new car is exciting, but it can be complicated, frustrating, and unnecessarily costly if you aren't careful. There are many questions to be answered, including whether you should buy or lease.

If you decide to lease, consider whether a high-mileage lease could be right for you.

Buying vs. Leasing

There are advantages and disadvantages to both buying and leasing a new vehicle. The right choice depends mostly on the individual's personal tastes and driving style.

For example, if you like the idea of driving a new model every two or three years or so, a lease is likely your best option. By the same token, buying is probably best if you simply can't get past the feeling that you don't own the vehicle you are driving.

Another important consideration that is often overlooked is mileage. Drivers who intend to spend a lot of time behind the wheel may think that leasing is the way to go, believing that it is better to put that heavy mileage on a vehicle that they will be turning in and soon won't have to worry about.

Standard leases, however, come with annual mileage limits, and if a lessee goes over the limit, it can cost a pretty penny in additional fees.

Mileage Limits Explained

Normally, standard auto leases come with annual mileage limits of 10,000 to 15,000 miles, most coming in with 12,000-mile annual limits. Since the average American driver puts about 13,500 miles on their car each year, according to 2018 data, a standard auto lease works well for most.

Drivers who put on more miles than the annual limit pay additional per-mile fees of $0.10 to $0.25. That might not sound like much, but if you pass the annual mileage limit by a lot—and regularly—your lease costs can skyrocket.

Fortunately, there is an option that could solve some of these problems: the high-mileage lease.

About High-Mileage Leases

A high-mileage lease is one that is written with a higher mileage limit to begin with—usually 18,000 to 20,000 miles. That way, the lessee can drive further per year without running up against those expensive over-the-limit per-mile fees. The catch is that you will make higher monthly lease payments.

Considering the trade-off between higher monthly payments with a high-mileage lease and above-limit per-mile fees with a standard lease, is a high-mileage lease worth it? The answer is, in most cases, yes.

The bottom line is what is important here. The closer you get to the mileage limit on a high-mileage lease, the more you will save.

On the other hand, if you estimate that you will only exceed a standard lease mileage limit by a few hundred miles, you are more likely better off with a standard lease and paying the additional per-mile fees.

How to Get a High-Mileage Lease

Most major dealers have one or more high-mileage lease options, so all you have to do is ask for one. However, availability may depend on a number of factors, such as model or geographic location.

The devil is in the details, so be sure that you have taken the time to estimate as accurately as possible the number of miles you intend to put on the vehicle each year and that you clearly understand the terms of the proposed lease. You'll definitely want to run the numbers through your calculator before signing on.

Note

Lessees often have some wiggle room when it comes to leasing terms, so don't be afraid to negotiate items such as the monthly payment, annual mileage limit, and over-the-limit per-mile fees. That way, you have the ability to fine-tune the bottom-line costs to your advantage.

High-Mileage Leases and Extended Warranties

Another factor to consider is purchasing an extended warranty on your new, newly leased car. Let's say, for example, that you sign a three-year high-mileage lease on a brand-new vehicle with a three-year or 36,000-mile warranty.

That averages out to 12,000 miles a year, meaning that if you intend to drive your vehicle more than that—which is what a high-mileage lease is for—then you will have some period of time during the latter stages of your lease when the vehicle is out of warranty. That means you'll be on the hook for all additional repair and maintenance costs, which could add up, considering the high mileage that will be on the vehicle by then. It's a good reason to consider shelling out for the extended warranty upfront.

Key Takeaways

  • If you decide to lease rather than buy a car, a high-mileage lease may be right for you when compared to a standard lease.
  • Standard leases come with annual mileage limits, and if a lessee goes over the limit, they can expect to pay over-the-limit per-mile fees.
  • High-mileage leases are written with higher mileage limits for lessees who drive more. However, expect the monthly payments to be more expensive.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How do car leases work?

With a car lease, you make monthly payments on the vehicle, then return it at the end of the lease period. You typically make a down payment, and the ongoing payments are based on the vehicle's depreciation during the lease period. Leases typically limit the mileage and charge a fee per mile if you exceed the limit.

How long are car leases?

Car leases are typically for two to four years. Your lease agreement will spell out how long the lease lasts, along with any fees you will owe at the end. If you violate the terms of the lease, you may owe additional fees when you turn in your vehicle.

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Sources
The Balance uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
  1. Federal Highway Administration. “Average Annual Miles per Driver by Age Group.”

  2. Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. “Keys to Vehicle Leasing: Comprehensive Consumer Guide.”

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