If you are leasing a car, you do so with the intention of giving it back to the dealer. There are some lease to own situations but for most lessees, returning the car is in their future. So you have to treat the car with care or else you might violate part of your lease agreement. Here are three tips for taking care of your leased car.
Maintain, Maintain, Maintain
Hopefully you’ve already intended to perform regular maintenance on the car. Unfortunately some people have the mindset that since the car isn’t actually theirs, they don’t need to worry about the upkeep. This is far from the truth and keeping a solid record of routine maintenance is extremely important when leasing a vehicle.
You must take the car in for oil changes and scheduled services. Every single part of your car plays a role into how well it functions. Oil ensures good engine health. If one part of your car is left to wither, it will affect how the car performs overall. This can create unnecessary wear and tear on the car.
You should also do your due diligence with waxing, cleaning, and detailing your leased vehicle. This care will ensure a smooth transition when it comes time to return the car.
Car Seat Covers
A solid tip for keeping up the appearance of the interior of your leased car, is to purchase car seat covers. These covers will help prevent any damage to the seats from spills, dirt, grime, sweat, and more. You might face some raised eyebrows if you return your car with coffee stains, salt marks, and a dirt covered interior.
Understand the Agreement
Finally, it is important to read through and understand your lease agreement. Yes, it is a boring read. Some wear and tear is acceptable on a returned vehicle. After all, the car is a mode of transportation and will be subjected to the roads, weather, and more. However, a lot of lease agreements will have an “excess wear and tear” clause. If the clause doesn’t clearly state what is meant by that, have your dealer write up a very specific addition to the lease so that both parties can justify what is or is not “excess”.
The lease agreement will likely also have terms regarding mileage. Most have a maximum amount you can drive per year and anything over that could cost you. Therefore, it is a good idea to really gauge what your daily commute is and then track any other types of mileage you use during a month or year prior to leasing a vehicle. Overages can be a wallet killer.
For more information about protecting the seats of you car, visit our website or call us at 888-246-5653.