The Lease End Live blog

Lease buyout guides, in plain English

Written guides to the numbers, paperwork and decisions at the end of a car lease, from Joe at Champion Auto Finance.

All posts

14 total

Oct 26, 2026 · 3 min read Add-Ons Offered With a Lease Buyout Loan: GAP, Service Contracts and Saying NoWhen you finance a lease buyout, extras like GAP and service contracts may be offered. What the FTC and CFPB say about declining them, shopping elsewhere and checking the contract.
Oct 26, 2026 · 3 min read Wear-and-Tear Charges vs. Buying Your Lease: What the Inspection DecidesA lease-end inspection can add excess wear and mileage charges if you return the car. Here is how the inspection works, what you can dispute, and how it changes the buy-or-return math.
Oct 23, 2026 · 3 min read The Odometer Statement You Sign When You Buy Your Leased CarFederal odometer law applies when a leased car changes hands. Here is what the leasing company must tell you, what you must disclose, and what to check before signing.
Oct 23, 2026 · 4 min read What Federal Law Says Your Car Lease Must Tell You About Buying ItRegulation M requires consumer car leases to disclose the purchase option, early termination, wear charges and more. Here is what to look for before you buy out your lease.
Oct 22, 2026 · 2 min read Five Lease-End Myths That Cost People MoneyCommon beliefs about returning, buying and extending a lease that sound right but are not always true, with the checks that settle each one.
Oct 22, 2026 · 2 min read Moving to Another State at Lease End: Registration, Tax and TitleIf you changed states during your lease, or plan to, the buyout can involve a different set of rules. Here are the questions to ask.
Oct 22, 2026 · 2 min read What to Tidy Up Before You Apply for Buyout FinancingApplications go more smoothly when your documents, credit report, and numbers are ready. A practical preparation list that makes no promises about approval.
Oct 22, 2026 · 2 min read A Lease-End Timeline: What to Do 120, 90, 60, 30 and 7 Days OutA countdown of tasks for the last four months of a lease, so nothing is left to the final week.
Oct 22, 2026 · 2 min read Normal Wear vs. Chargeable Damage: How to Judge Your Own CarLeasing companies define 'excess wear' in their contracts. Here is a practical way to walk around your car and sort scuffs from bills.
Oct 22, 2026 · 2 min read Third-Party Buyouts: What to Ask Before You Assume AnythingWhether an outside financing company can complete your lease buyout depends on your leasing company and sometimes your state. Here is how to find out without guessing.
Oct 22, 2026 · 2 min read The Ten-Minute Payoff Call: A Script You Can Read Out LoudA written script for calling your leasing company, with the questions in the right order and a place to write each answer.
Oct 22, 2026 · 2 min read The Disposition Fee, Explained: What It Is and When It DisappearsMost leases include a charge for returning the car. Here is what it covers, how it is different from wear charges, and why buying can change whether you pay it.
Oct 22, 2026 · 2 min read Residual Value vs. Market Value: What the Gap Means for YouYour contract residual was a forecast made years ago. The market has its own opinion today. Here is how the difference decides whether buying makes sense.
Oct 22, 2026 · 3 min read How to Read Your Lease-End Letter, Line by LineThe notice your leasing company mails before your term ends is dense. Here is what each section means and which lines deserve a phone call.