A lease buyout is an option that consumers have when the lease on their vehicle has expired. When you lease a vehicle, you're making monthly payments towards the overall value of the car. This option of automobile possession is basically a rental agreement that the consumer enters into. The understanding is that at the end of the term, the consumer has the choice of returning the vehicle to the dealership, or buying it outright by paying the residual value of the car. Lease buyout loans are a form of car loan that the consumer can apply for if they choose to pay the remaining balance of the determined value of the vehicle. To those consumers with bad credit, finding the right lease buyout loan can be a difficult endeavor, but not a thankless one. Here are some tips to follow when trying to find the right lender for your situation.
Consider How Much You're Borrowing
Assessing how much the car is worth is more than just looking it up. Consider first if the car is worth owning or if it makes sense to return it to the dealership. How much mileage is on the car? Do you run the risk of high maintenance and repair costs for the duration of the ownership of the vehicle? These are questions you have to ask yourself before deciding on a lease buyout. If you decide that it is indeed worth keeping the car, then you can begin to bargain on the residual price of the vehicle.
Trying to haggle the best price will be dependent upon the condition of the vehicle and the current fair market value of the car. This can be determined by referencing the Kelley Blue Book, the industry standard by which retail value is established for automobiles. Dealerships that take back leased cars can choose to resell them as used cars, but they'd much rather sell to an already interested party instead of having it sit on their lot. They're willing to negotiate what the fair market value of the buyout would cost. Once that price is agreed upon, you can figure out how much you need to borrow from a lender.
Bad Credit Lenders
The most important thing to do is your homework, because there are plenty of lenders who will work with consumers who have bad credit, but they won't be falling over each other to offer you the best deal. Most lenders who offer bad credit loans will do so at higher interest rates, since you're considered a high risk borrower. If you can prove that you paid your lease payments in full and on time, this can help in locking in a rate and getting the best deal possible. Lenders who offer car loans are willing to work more readily with consumers looking for buyout loans. The amount of money you will apply for is often much less than a standard car loan, since you are paying less for the car at this point.