"I want to lease the car."
If you decide to lease the car, you will also be asked to fill out a credit application. Based on your credit score, and the length of the auto lease you want, the dealer will shop for a lease for you. Using a sophisticated computer program, numerous banks will be contacted. Each bank will have different terms and conditions.
You will need to decide how long you want to lease for (we strongly recommend three years). Also, you need to decide how much you want to pay upfront (we recommend you pay as little as possible to start the lease -- tell the dealer you want to pay "drive-off fees only").
Most auto lease contracts allow you to drive the car 12,000 miles a year. If you typically drive more than this, ask that the car lease be written for 15,000 miles or even 18,500 miles. This will raise your monthly payments but save you money in the long run.
Your contract will contain a residual price for the car you are leasing. When you have made all the lease payments, you can then buy the car for this residual price (or you can sometimes negotiate an even lower price to buy the car for). If you decide to return the car to the leasing company, they may charge you for excessive wear and tear to the vehicle. If the car is in great shape, you can get your security deposit back or use it to start the lease of another new car.