What is the Timeframe to Return a Leased Car?

Are you nearing the final months of a car lease in the St. Marys area? The leasing company should contact you around 90 days before the end of your lease so you can start preparing for the lease return process. But if you’re wondering, “Can you return a leased car within 30 days of the lease-end date?”, it should usually be okay, but check your lease contract or ask the leasing company to be sure! 

On the other hand, if you’re wondering, “Can I cancel a car lease within 30 days of signing?”, the answer is probably a different story. You wouldn’t be the first State College driver to change your mind about a lease, but there are things you should know about early termination. 

Can You Return a Leased Car Within 30 Days of Signing?

You thought you chose the perfect vehicle for your drives in the Altoona area. But after some time on the road, you’re rethinking your choice. Maybe there’s not enough cargo space, or you don’t have enough legroom. Regardless, you’re questioning whether you can cancel a car lease within 30 days — it’s possible, but not necessarily advisable. 

Whether the question is, “Can you return a lease after 1 day?” or “Can I return a leased car within 3 days?”, the answer is the same. Returning it early could cost you a big fee, no matter how few days it’s been since you signed the lease.

Early termination fees vary between leasing companies, but they typically go one of two ways: 

• You have to pay the total of the remaining lease payments. Essentially, you’re still paying for the entire car lease, but you don’t get to drive the vehicle. 
• Or, you have to pay the difference between the current lease balance and the predicted lease-end value. 

What to Ask Before Ending a Car Lease Early

Research shows that the average car buyer spends more than 14 hours researching, shopping, and purchasing or leasing their vehicle. That said, it’s not often after only one or three days that someone wants to return their lease. 

If you’re within one year or so of your car lease ending and want to end it early, ask yourself these questions:

• Why do you want to end the lease early? If it’s as minor as not liking the color of your car, the issue isn’t worth a potentially hefty penalty. But if your situation is something like moving to a new country, you may need to accept the early termination fee.

• How large of a fee would you pay? If you were to cancel a car lease within 30 days of starting it, you’d likely pay substantially more than if you were to end the lease six months early.

• What are the leasing company’s policies? Some leasing companies offer a grace period to their lessees, but it’s not a standard practice. If you’re in a bind and there’s no way around ending your lease early, contact the company to ask about your options — they may be willing to work with you.

Contact Spitzer Autoworld DuBois Cadillac with Questions!

If you lost track of time and are wondering, “Can you return a leased car within 30 days of the lease-end date?”, contact us, and we’ll tell you how to move forward with your lease return. Wondering what to do next? Compare leasing vs. buying to determine if buying a car suits you better. No matter what avenue you prefer, our vehicle specials can help you save.