You get several years to see if the car fits your lifestyle, has mechanical issues, or if you truly enjoy driving it before committing to a 10-year relationship.

Unless you have the cash ready, you’ll need to apply for a "used car loan" to cover the residual price at the end of the lease.

When you sign the lease, the dealer sets a "residual value." This is the pre-determined price you can buy the car for at the end of the lease.

Leasing a car with the intent to buy it later—often called a —is essentially a long-term test drive that ends in ownership. It’s a strategic move for drivers who want lower monthly payments now but want to keep the car for the long haul. Here is how the process works and why you might choose it: How it Works

At the end of your term, you can either return the keys or pay that residual price (plus any fees) to own the car outright. Why Lease-to-Buy?

If you love the car and it’s worth more than the buyout price, it’s a smart financial move. If the car has lost more value than expected, you can simply walk away—one of the few "win-win" scenarios in auto finance.

You know exactly what the car will cost years in advance. If the market value of the car ends up being higher than the residual value, you’re getting a bargain.