Leasing Tips

If you followed the "10 Steps to Finding the Right Car for You," it should be obvious which car you want to lease. This means you know the make, model, trim level, options and color. The more flexible you can be, the better the lease deal you will be able to make. For example, a shopper might be very firm about the make, model and trim level, but could accept a variety of options and colors. If another shopper definitely wants hard-to-find options and a specific color, it will be more difficult to make a great deal. Why? You have no leverage as a negotiator. You have to pay the dealer's lease rate or try to locate another identical vehicle.

In any case, locate the exact car you want by sending e-mails to the Internet managers at dealerships in your area. On Edmunds.com, you can simultaneously solicit lease quotes from multiple dealers. In some cases, you may have to follow up with a phone call. Say something like: "I want to lease a 2005 Matsura Accell for three years. I'm not too fussy about the color but I don't want black or white. I want ABS and side airbags. What do you have on your lot? And can you give me a lease payment?" Often the salesperson will have to check his inventory and call you back. After a few phone calls, you will have a good idea of how widely available the car is. If there are several dealerships offering the same car, you will be in a better position to get a rock-bottom lease payment.

As you make phone calls and exchange e-mails with the dealership's Internet manager, take careful notes about the lease quotes you receive. You should have already calculated your lease payments yourself using the Edmunds.com lease calculator . Now, compare the quotes you get to your own calculated lease payments. Record the information you receive about each car you locate, including the color, options and the dealership name. This will save time as you continue to shop for a good leased car.