Get access to the same vehicle valuation tool that dealers rely on. With Black Book, you’ll have insider data to accurately assess trade-in and purchase values—empowering you to negotiate the best possible deal.
Leasing a car can be a smart financial choice—but only if you know how to navigate the process. Unfortunately, common mistakes and confusing terms can leave lessees overpaying or stuck with an unfavorable deal. We spoke with CarEdge leasing expert Mario to learn all of the best lease negotiation strategies to unlock big savings in today’s car market. This simple guide will show you how to negotiate a lease with confidence, avoid common pitfalls, and secure the best possible terms for your budget.
Common Leasing Mistakes to Avoid
1. Don’t Fall for Flashy Lease Ads
Those low monthly payment lease offers might sound great, but they’re often misleading. Advertised specials exclude taxes, fees, and require large down payments or specific trim levels. Instead of relying on these ads, negotiate your own lease deal tailored to your budget. Manufacturer’s advertised lease deals are a great jumping off point, but always reflect an unrealistically low monthly payment.
2. Understand the Numbers
Before negotiating a car lease, familiarize yourself with how lease payments are calculated. Key factors include:
Residual Value: The car’s value at the end of the lease.
Money Factor: Essentially the interest rate you pay on the vehicle’s depreciation and residual value over the lease term.
Knowing these terms helps you spot inflated payments and hidden costs.
3. Set a Target Before You Negotiate
Define clear goals for your monthly payment, upfront costs, and lease terms (e.g., mileage and duration). Setting a realistic floor (ideal terms) and ceiling (the highest lease terms you’ll accept) ensures you stay focused and within budget.
Use tools like the CarEdge Deal Hubto find average dealer discounts for your car.
Look for loyalty, conquest, or regional incentives that can reduce costs.
2. Understand the Lease Offer
Find out the money factor (interest rate) and residual value for your desired car.
Push for the base money factor, especially if you have an excellent credit score (also known as Tier 1 credit).
3. Request Out-the-Door Quotes
Request OTD quotes as though you’re purchasing the vehicle, not leasing. Avoid mentioning that you intend to lease or that you have a trade-in. This keeps the negotiation focused on the selling price and prevents the dealer from steering the conversation toward monthly payments.
Use this free out-the-door calculator to get a realistic estimate, but the best way to move forward is to have the salesperson or sales manager provide a detailed out-the-door price sheet for a specific VIN.
Focus on Dealer Discount: Dealer fees and qualifying incentives can be negotiated later, but you want to establish a competitive discount first.
How many quotes should you get? Aim for 5-8 out-the-door price quotes from different dealers. The more you shop around, the greater your chances of finding a competitive deal.
4. Pivot to a Lease Proposal
Once you’ve negotiated the out-the-door selling price, it’s time to pivot to a lease deal. Request a lease proposal with specific terms:
Lease length (e.g., 36 months).
Mileage limit (e.g., 12,000 miles/year).
Upfront costs (e.g., down payment amount, or the first payment only?).
5. Verify the Lease Worksheet
Ask for a detailed lease worksheet to review:
Selling price and incentives.
Money factor and residual value.
Dealer fees and add-ons (e.g., avoid unnecessary extras like etching, theft protection, pinstripes, nitrogen tire inflation, etc.). Here’s how to spot dealer add-ons.
6. Finalize Your Lease
Once all numbers match your expectations, confirm the deal and ensure you receive a finalized lease worksheet before signing.
Negotiating a car lease doesn’t have to be overwhelming. By avoiding common pitfalls, doing your research, and sticking to your goals, you can save money and secure a lease that fits your needs. With tools like CarEdge Insights, our free Out-the-Door Price Calculator, and the Deal Hub, you’ll be prepared to approach dealerships with confidence.
As 2024 wraps up, automakers are rolling out incredible year-end lease deals on a wide range of vehicles, from family SUVs to full-size trucks. With dealerships eager to clear out inventory, now is the time to lock in a great lease with low monthly payments, minimal upfront costs, and even bonus incentives.
Here are 10 amazing year-end lease deals you don’t want to miss before the calendar flips to 2025. Note that these manufacturer offers do not include tax, title, and fees, and not all dealers participate.
2024 Volkswagen Taos
Lease the Taos S for 36 months with $0 down, $0 first month’s payment, and $0 due at signing with payments of $339 for the remaining 35 months.
Returning GM lessees can lease the Terrain from $370/month for 39 months with $0 due at signing. See offer details. This offer expires on January 2, 2025.
Lease the Tacoma TRD Off Road for $489/month for 36 months with $0 due at signing in the Mid-Atlantic market. Lease for as low as $239/month with $3,999 down in other markets.
With these incredible end-of-year lease specials, now is the perfect time to upgrade your ride before 2025 arrives. From SUVs like the Volkswagen Taos tol trucks like the Chevrolet Silverado and Toyota Tacoma, there’s a deal to suit any driver.
Remember, these offers are only available for a limited time, with most expiring in early January. Don’t miss your chance to lock in the savings.
As 2024 comes to a close, some of the most negotiable cars and trucks today are leftover 2023 models. These vehicles have been sitting on dealer lots for well over a year, making them prime targets for buyers equipped with negotiation know-how. From muscle cars like the Dodge Charger to workhorse trucks like the Ford F-250, these leftover 2023 models represent an opportunity to negotiate significant discounts—often 20% off or more.
Here are the 10 most negotiable new cars and trucks on sale right now.
The new Dodge Charger Daytona is officially here, but dealers have plenty of the last generation to sell. It looks like over 2,000 new 2023 Dodge Chargers will make it to see 2025 without an owner.
The best-selling truck in America isn’t selling fast enough, at least not when it comes to leftovers from 2023. For truck buyers looking for the most negotiable new truck in December 2024, remaining 2023 inventory is the place to look.
There’s yet another negotiable new truck in today’s market: any of the 1,000 new 2023 Ram 1500 pickup trucks still for sale in December. With the Ram 1500 Classic discontinued, fans of that truck should act quickly before they vanish from new truck lots forever.
Built for towing and heavier payloads, the F-250 is a true American work truck. However, it’s also quite expensive, with many trim options selling for north of $80,000. That’s what makes leftover 2023 F-250s special – they’re a rare chance for a deal on a capable work truck.
Highly negotiable 2023 Silverados are out there, although not in the numbers seen with Ford trucks. Negotiate at least 20% off of MSRP for any new 2023s on the lot in December 2024. Locking in savings is your only protection from the depreciation hit you’ll see when you drive off the lot.
There’s a severe glut of unsold Jeep Grand Cherokees right now. Besides the 903 new 2023s still awaiting an owner, there are 15,000 2024 models on dealer lots in December. The good news is that the Grand Cherokee is highly negotiable today.
The Escape has been discontinued after 25 years in the Ford lineup. Looking at the slowing sales numbers, it looks like a no-brainer for the automaker. If you’re in the market for a cheap crossover SUV, any of the 800+ remaining 2023 Escapes could be your best bet.
Stellantis is undergoing quite the shakeup right now, in large part because of Jeep’s dismal sales numbers in recent years. The Jeep Gladiator is no different, with over 800 new 2023s still on sale in late 2024.
Last but not least is the 2023 Ram 2500. The heavy duty truck, which is available with both diesel and gasoline-powered engines, is lauded for a comfortable ride for such a large work-oriented truck.
With high inventory levels and plenty of 2023 models still on sale, now is the perfect time to negotiate your way to a great deal. Car dealers are the most motivated to sell each December as they strive to meet annual sales goals. As always, research is key—use tools like CarEdge Insights to analyze pricing trends and market supply before heading to the dealership.
Don’t miss your chance to score one of these highly negotiable deals before the year ends!
👉 Head to the new Deal Hub to see all of the best year-end car and truck deals for December 2024
We’ve got new comparisons fresh off the press! Consumer Reports just released their Car Brand Reliability rankings for 2025. Enjoy the fresh data below!
Have you ever found yourself pleasantly surprised upon discovering that a certain car brand far exceeds your expectations? Maybe it was the first time you saw the redesigned Kia Sportage, or perhaps it was the new Honda Accord. This year, some names on the list of the top 10 most reliable car brands might just raise your eyebrows!
Consumer Reports’ Annual Reliability Rankings
Every year, Consumer Reports asks its members about problems they’ve had with their vehicles in the previous 12 months. With data from over 300,000 vehicles that addresses 17 common trouble areas, CR’s reliability ratings are the best in the industry. The result of their testing and surveys is a rating system that assigns scores to brands and specific models.
These are the top 10 of the most reliable car brands for 2025 and their overall scores, as ranked by Consumer Reports. Surprise, surprise! Subaru, Lexus, and Toyota top the charts. Chances are you didn’t expect to see the likes of BMW, Kia, and Hyundai on this list! We’ve added the change in Consumer Reports brand reliability score since last year for comparison’s sake.
Among the top 10 brands by reliability, all except Toyota moved up this year. For 2025, Mini and Porsche were knocked off of the list.
👉 It’s important to note that Consumer Reports lacked sufficient data for brand rankings for the following brands: Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat, Infiniti, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lincoln, Lucid, Maserati, Mercedes-Benz, Mini, Mitsubishi, Polestar, Porsche, and Ram.
How did Consumer Reports come up with their reliability rankings? Here’s what they’ve shared on their rankings page: “This year we calculated brand-level score by first examining the weighted overall problem rate for all models within a brand for each model year. Then the brand reliability score was calculated by averaging models from 2022 to 2024, and some early 2025 data for each brand, where there was sufficient sample size.” For those interested in a 2025 model, you’ll have to wait until the next Consumer Reports reliability rankings come out in December 2025.
Reliability by Powertrain
Hybrid vehicles were found to have the best reliability among electrified powertrains. A closer look at Consumer Reports’ 2025 data reveals that some hybrids have much worse reliability than others. Ford’s F-150 Hybrid and Escape Hybrid have very low reliability according to CR. Fully-electric vehicles had 42% MORE problems than gas and hybrid vehicles, and plug-in hybrids scored the worst by far with 70% more problems than gas and hybrid vehicles.
Navigating Reliability Ratings: Final Thoughts
While reliability is a crucial factor in choosing your next vehicle, it’s essential to consider other elements. Factors like fuel efficiency, comfort, safety features, and the car’s total cost of ownership play significant roles in your decision-making process. Each driver has unique needs and preferences, and finding the perfect balance of these elements is key to enjoying your purchase for years to come.
Ready to outsmart the dealerships? Download your 100% freecar buying cheat sheets today. From negotiating a deal to leasing a car the smart way, it’s all available for instant download. Get your cheat sheets today!
Year-end sales are officially here, and there are nearly 1.5 million 2024 models left to sell. That’s bad news for automakers, but great news for car buyers. Manufacturers and dealerships are bringing their best incentives to the table for December. These are the top 10 year-end car deals in December 2024. Don’t expect deals this good to stick around come January!
Best Deal: 0% APR for 72 months, and up to $8,000 in total cash allowance. Some buyers may qualify for up to $3,750 in federal tax credits for the purchase of this plug-in hybrid SUV.
Lease the Grand Cherokee for $379/month for 42 months with $4,419 due at signing.
Year-End Sales Are the Best Deals We’ll See For a While
There’s an abundance of great offers right now, and it’s only for a limited time. Come January, these incentives will vanish, only to be replaced by less appetizing offers. December is always the best month to buy a car. If you’re on the fence about a purchase or new lease, know that these are the best deals we’ll see for months to come. Tired of car buying hassles? We can always help with CarEdge’s car buying service.
States eligibile for below invoice pricing and 100% free delivery:
Alabama, Arkansas, Texas, Oklahoma, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Delaware, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.
What if I don’t live in these states? If you're outside these areas, don't worry! We're committed to making sure everyone can enjoy our deals. Although the delivery fee will not be waived, you can still purchase from CarEdge and either pay for shipping or coordinate pickup at a participating dealer.
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FAQ
How much does it cost?
Our concierge service costs $999 plus an optional shipping fee (based on distance or pick-up).
To get started, pay the one-time payment of $999 and a CarEdge concierge will start by negotiating the vehicles in your favorites.
Why should you let a concierge do the work?
Get the best deal
Our team of concierges and industry experts with 75+ years of combined experience with access to tools and data to leverage the best deal possible.
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Gone are the days of looking for a car and stepping into the dealership spending hours and hours of head banging only to get smooth talked into a higher price.
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We answer all questions you may have regarding the buying process, what the right car is, the deal itself, and more!
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Transparent when others aren't
Our commitment to transparency and honesty ensures that you make informed decisions, while our years of experience guarantee that we will be able to secure the best deal for you.
When you win, we win
We work for you, not the dealership, ensuring your interests are always our top priority.
Buying a car just got a whole lot easier.
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What’s included in my car buying toolkit?
Dealer Invoice Price
Access the Dealer’s Invoice Price to negotiate an even better car deal.
Target Discount
A recommendation of for how much you should negotiate towards.
Negotiation Guide
Know exactly what you need to say to dealers to secure the best deal.
Exclusive Data
Info about your car such as cost of ownership, sales data, and more!
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