|
State of Wisconsin
Strengthening Wisconsin's Financial Future
Department of Financial Institutions |
|
| Home > Your Money Matters > Brochures > Financing |
 
|
Motor Vehicle Leases: What You Need to Know(The following is a Your Money Matters program brochure reproduction) The Leasing Option: Leasing is a way to obtain the use of a motor vehicle without actually purchasing it. Your rights and responsibilities with respect to using the vehicle and making payments, are disclosed in the lease agreement. A lease agreement is complex, so be sure you understand the agreement before you sign it. Most lease terms are negotiable. Understanding the terms and how they relate to your own needs may help you negotiate a lease that is right for you. Upon your request a dealer must provide a blank sample of its lease form to you for your review. Definitions Gross capitalized cost - the amount agreed upon by the lessor and the lessee as the beginning value of the vehicle, including taxes, insurance, service agreements and any outstanding prior credit or lease balance. Capitalized cost reduction - the total amount of any rebate, net trade-in allowance and cash payment made at the beginning of the lease (similar to a down payment). Lessee - a person that leases a vehicle for his or her use (i.e. the consumer/customer). Lessor - a company in the business of leasing vehicles to consumers. Rent charge - the charge the consumer pays for the right to make payments over time (similar to interest). Residual value - the value of the leased vehicle at the end of the lease term. How are the monthly payments determined on a lease? First , subtract the capitalized cost reduction from the gross capitalized cost. The difference between that number and the residual value is the depreciation that will occur during the lease term. Add the rent charges to the depreciation amount to determine the amount of all payments. Divide the total of payments by the number of months in the lease to determine the monthly payment. Let’s look at an example for a car with a capitalized cost of $20,000 on a 24 month lease: Gross Capitalized Cost $20,000 Capitalized Cost Reduction - 500 Adjusted Capitalized Cost 19,500 Residual Value - 11,000 Depreciation 8,500 Rent Charges + 3,000 Total of Payments 11,500 Monthly Payment = $11,500/24 = $479 Does the dealer have to tell me how the gross capitalized cost is determined? Yes, lease agreements will contain a notice that informs customers of the right to receive a separate written itemization of the gross capitalized cost. If you request one, the dealer should provide the itemization before you sign the lease agreement. What other payments must I pay besides the monthly payments? At the beginning of the lease, you may have to pay a refundable security deposit; an acquisition fee; license, registration and title fees; a capitalized cost reduction (similar to a down payment); and taxes. During the lease, you will have to pay insurance premiums; ongoing maintenance costs; and sales tax on the monthly payments. If you end the lease early, you may have to pay substantial early termination charges. If applicable, you will also be responsible for any late payment fees and traffic tickets. At the end of the lease, if you do not purchase the vehicle, you may have to pay a disposition fee and charges for excess wear and excess mileage. The end of my lease is coming and I’ve decided I want to purchase the car. I don’t have a purchase option in my lease; will they sell me the car anyway? Maybe. Since you didn’t negotiate a purchase option into your lease, the lessor isn’t under any obligation to sell you the car. Keep in mind that if you decide to buy, and the lessor agrees, it will be a new transaction. You will have to re-negotiate the price and sign a new contract. What is GAP? If your leased vehicle is stolen or totaled in an accident, you are still obligated to pay the balance of your lease. The amount you receive from your auto insurance claim may not be enough to pay off your lease. The difference between the insurance proceeds and the amount owed on the lease is called the GAP amount. Your lease agreement will state whether you are liable for the GAP amount. The dealer may offer to sell you "GAP protection" which acts like insurance and will pay the GAP amount for you. A dealer cannot require you to purchase GAP protection. Will I have to pay for repairs on the car while I am leasing it? Usually you are responsible for repairs and maintenance of the vehicle. The lessor must disclose this to you in writing when you first lease the vehicle. They must also tell you if the standard manufacturer’s warranty is available or if they provide any warranties on the vehicle. Because the warranty might not last as long as the lease, many lessors also sell extended service plans. Some of these are very comprehensive, covering everything from maintenance to towing, while others cover only the major systems. Read the warranty carefully to make sure it provides the type of coverage you desire. I leased a brand new car yesterday and now I don’t think I can afford it. The salesperson won’t let me out of it, but don’t I have three days to cancel? Probably not. The three day right to cancel law applies to transactions that took place, and were signed, away from the merchant’s regular place of business. For example, if you bought encyclopedias from someone who came to your door, you would have three days to cancel. But if you went to a store and purchased them there, the three day right to cancel wouldn’t apply. Who regulates leasing activity? In Wisconsin, the Department of Financial Institutions and the Department of Transportation regulate lease practices. These Departments make sure dealerships abide by the laws that govern lease transactions. If you have a question or concern about a company’s leasing practices, call or write us at: Department of Financial Institutions PO Box 8041 Madison WI 53708-8041 1 (800) 452-3328 (Wisconsin residents only) or (608) 264-7969 Fax: (608) 264-7968
About the State of Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions: DFI provides financial education through our Your Money Matters program including:
DFI regulates the following: Division of Banking - regulatory responsibility for state-chartered banks, mortgage bankers and licensed financial service providers. Division of Corporate and Consumer Services - responsible for Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) filings, and maintaining the state-wide data base of UCC lien filings for secured transactions, and for organizing or licensing domestic and foreign corporations, limited partnerships, limited liability companies, and limited liability partnerships. Office of Credit Unions - supervision of state-chartered credit unions. Division of Savings Institutions - supervision of savings and loans, and savings banks. Division of Securities - regulates offerings of securities, including mutual funds; franchise offerings; broker-dealers and securities agents; investment advisers and investment adviser representatives. Office of Consumer Affairs - Counsels consumers and merchants regarding their rights and responsibilities under the Wisconsin Consumer Act, which governs consumer credit transactions and the collection of consumer debt. More About DFI DFI is a self-supporting agency funded by fees charged to those it regulates. DFI is here to serve you! Visit us at 345 West Washington Avenue, Madison, Wisconsin. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. DFI To learn more about us visit our Website at:
DFI Department of Financial Institutions 345 West Washington Avenue Madison, WI 53703 Office of the Secretary 608-264-7800 Banking/Savings Institutions 608-261-7578 Mortgage Banking 608-261-7578 Corporations 608-261-7577 Credit Unions 608-261-9543 Licensed Financial Services 608-261-7578 Securities 608-266-1064 Uniform Commercial Code 608-261-9548 Office Consumer Affairs (Wisconsin Consumer Act) 608-264-7969 Office Financial Literacy 608-267-1713 You can file a complaint by writing to: Department of Financial Institutions Office of Consumer Affairs PO BOX 8041 Madison, WI 53708-8041
Above all, the most important thing to remember is investigate before you invest!
|
|