Before making a final decision, pay attention to criteria such as ownership, down payment, vehicle return and distance restrictions.
Car Financing Or Lease?
Almost impossible to imagine without a car. We use vehicles to get to work, take the kids to school, go shopping, get to a meeting, and more. In addition, if you find yourself in a difficult life situation, you can always apply and get a same day car title loan if you own a car title in your name. However, no vehicle lasts forever. Thus, if you are thinking about getting a new vehicle, you are most likely facing some questions, such as should you finance or lease a car. Below you can study the information about what car leasing and car financing is, and compare these two options by some comparison criteria. Thus, you will be able to choose the most suitable option for you.
What Is Car Financing?
Vehicle financing means you borrow money to buy a car. Thus, you make regular monthly payments until the debt with interest is paid in full. It is important to note that with financing, you own your vehicle. However, if you are unable to make regular monthly payments, then the lender or loan company may be able to take your car in order to consolidate the loan debt. There are now a huge number of loans such as instant Virginia title loans that help borrowers finance their car so that they can eventually own it completely.
What Is Car Leasing?
Leasing a car means that you rent a car and pay regular monthly payments to the company that provided it to you. Thus, under leasing, the car belongs to the dealership. So, if you can’t make the payment, then the dealership will take your car in order to refund what they couldn’t get.
The main difference between financing and leasing a vehicle is who owns the car. As already said, with financing you will own your vehicle. That way, when you pay off the loan with interest, you will be able to fully own the car, keep driving it, sell it, and so on. Thus, you can do whatever you want with your vehicle. However, when the car is leased, it continues to belong to the dealer. Thus, at the expiration of the loan, the dealer will want to return the car in perfect condition in order to be able to resell it.
What Are The Advantages And Disadvantages Of Car Financing?
The main benefit of financing a car is that you will own it after you pay the debt and interest on time. Thus, you will be able to dispose of the car as you wish – drive it, sell it, donate it, and so on.
The disadvantages of this option include rather high monthly payments and the possibility of losing the vehicle if you cannot pay the debt with interest on time.
What Are The Advantages And Disadvantages Of Car Leasing?
The advantage of leasing a car is that you only need to pay a small monthly fee to drive a new car in good condition. What’s more, once the loan expires, you won’t have to think about selling the car, as that will be the task of the dealership.
The disadvantages include the fact that you will not be the owner of the car after the loan expires. Thus, you simply return the car to the dealership. What’s more, the dealership may also charge you extra for mileage that exceeds the stated annual mileage, or for vehicle cleaning and repairs.
Car Financing VS Leasing: Main Comparison Criteria
In order to better understand which of these options is right for you and your situation, you can study the table that compares car financing and car leasing according to some criteria.
Ownership | Down Payment | Vehicle Return | Distance Restrictions | |
Car Financing | The car is your property, so you can keep it, use it however you want, sell it, donate it, repaint it, modify it, and so on. | Typically includes cash price or down payment, taxes, registration fees, and some other fees | Since you will be the owner of the car, you will need to repair, modify and sell it yourself. | Since the car will be your property, you will have the right to drive as often and as far as you want. However, you must remember that the more kilometers you drive, the lower the resale value of your car will be. |
Car Leasing | You do not own the car, you only pay to use it for a certain period of time. After the expiration date, you will need to return the vehicle or buy it if you want. | Most often includes first month payment, refundable security deposit, down payment, taxes, registration fees and possibly some other fees. | After the end of the leasing period, you will be able to return the car and leave after paying all fees for the end of the lease. | In most leasin gs, you will need to agree on an annual limit on how much you can drive your car. Thus, you will have to incur additional costs if you attach this limit. |
Which Option Should You Choose?
Of course, no one but you can answer this question as it is a personal decision that depends on your needs. If you want your car to be yours when the loan expires and you are willing to make regular monthly payments on time, then car financing is a good option. However, if you only need the vehicle for a certain period of time and then don’t want to worry about selling it, leasing a car is the way to go. Pay attention to your desires, needs and financial capabilities in order to make the right decision.
