Do You Get Your Deposit Back On A Leased Car?

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Are you wondering what happens to your down payment on a leased car? It’s simple. You’re not going to get it back after the lease term ends.

This upfront payment or downpayment is non-refundable and it’s included in the overall cost of the lease. When leasing a vehicle, you need to sign up for a contract that determines how you will pay and how long the term lasts.

For this reason, you’ll pay an upfront cost. This is referred to as the initial rental payment. After that, you’re going to continue paying fixed monthly payments until the end of the lease term.

In perspective, this is the cost of driving a leased vehicle. Once the contract ends, you return the vehicle to the dealership and you can take another newer car model for a new contract. Likewise, if you love the car, you can keep it through a lease buyout.

What is a security deposit and how does it work?

A security deposit works like advance payment. It’s money that you pay to the dealership when you sign the lease contract. This is in addition to the downpayment.

The security deposit is refundable and it’s used as collateral in case you default on your payments or if you damage the car. The amount of the security deposit depends on the make and model of the car, as well as your credit score.

For example, if you’re leasing a BMW 3 Series, the security deposit could be $3,000. On the other hand, if you’re leasing a Toyota Camry, the security deposit would be much lower at $500.

The dealership will hold on to your security deposit during the duration of the lease. They will only return it to you when you return the car at the end of the lease term.

Keep in mind that the security deposit is different from the downpayment. The downpayment is non-refundable and it’s applied to the cost of the lease. The security deposit, on the other hand, is refundable and it’s used as collateral in case you default on your payments or damage the car.

What is a downpayment?

The initial rental payment is more commonly known as a downpayment. It’s a sum of money that you pay to the dealer or automaker for the use of their vehicle. This is in addition to the monthly payments that you’re already making.

The downpayment can be anything from one to several months’ worth of rental payments. On average, it would be equivalent to two or three monthly payments. In some cases, the downpayment may be higher if you’re leasing a more expensive car.

The dealership will require a downpayment because they need to recoup some of the money that they lost when they offered you the lease in the first place. They’re essentially loaning you the vehicle for a certain period and they need to make some money off of it.

Why is the downpayment non-refundable?

The downpayment is non-refundable because it’s applied to the total cost of the lease. This upfront payment is included in your monthly payments. It’s also worth noting that the dealership may use this money as collateral in case you default on your payments.

So, if you decide to return the car before the lease is up, you’re not going to get this money back. The same thing applies if you get into an accident and the car is totaled. The insurance company will reimburse the dealership for the value of the vehicle but they’re not going to give you back the downpayment.

In a nutshell, the downpayment is non-refundable because it’s applied to the cost of the lease. This is an upfront payment that you make when you sign the contract. It’s included in your monthly payments and it’s not something that you’re going to get back at the end of the lease term.

In addition, the bigger the amount you pay as a downpayment for the leased vehicle,  the lower your monthly payments will be.

How making multiple security deposits helps you save on interests?

In a majority of leasing contracts, a security deposit requirement is equal to your car’s one-month payment and can be rounded up to the next highest whole number. So, if your monthly rate is $400, your security deposit would be $400, and the total amount you pay upfront would be $800.

Paying multiple security deposits helps you save on interest because it allows you to control how much interest you’ll end up paying over the life of the lease.

For example, let’s say you’re leasing a car for three years and your monthly payments are $400. If you make a single security deposit of $400, you’ll be paying interest on the entire amount for the life of the lease.

On the other hand, if you make three security deposits of $133 each, you’ll only be paying interest on $399 for the life of the lease. This could potentially save you hundreds of dollars in interest throughout the lease.

The bottom line is that making multiple security deposits can help you save on interest because it allows you to control how much interest you’ll end up paying over the life of the lease.

In Conclusion

So, do you get your deposit back on a leased car? The answer is no. The downpayment is non-refundable and it’s applied to the cost of the lease. The security deposit, on the other hand, is refundable and it’s used as collateral in case you default on your payments or damage the car. 

Paying multiple security deposits can help you save on interest because it allows you to control how much interest you’ll end up paying over the life of the lease.

I hope this article helped you understand how deposits work when leasing a car. If you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us.

About Marcus The Car Guy

I've been in car sales and finance for over 20 years, working at the highest volume dealerships in the nation including Fletcher Jones, DCH and more. Want to pick my brain on finding cars, negotiating cars, and structuring car deals?

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