Your lease is ending. What are your options?
You can return the car, buy it out, lease or buy another, or flex. Flexing gives you your own car with insurance, maintenance, roadside, and registration included, plus the freedom to swap, keep, or return it as life changes.
Your options
| To start | What comes next | |
|---|---|---|
| Return it | Any turn-in fee, plus charges for extra miles or wear | You need another car |
| Buy it out | The buyout price in your contract plus tax and fees, usually with a new loan | Insurance, maintenance, and repairs are on you |
| Lease or buy another | Money due at signing, or a down payment | Another multi-year contract or loan |
| Flex | No down payment: the $249 annual membership, plus a refundable deposit if your approval includes one | Keep it as long as you like, swap it, or return it |
What turning it in can cost
Your lease has to spell out what turning the car in costs: any disposition fee, the charge for each mile over your allowance, and what counts as excess wear. Ending it early can bring a substantial charge, and the required disclosure warns it may be up to several thousand dollars.
Typical amounts: a disposition fee of a few hundred dollars, which you may avoid if you buy the car or lease another from the same company, and about 12 to 30 cents for each mile over the allowance.
Sources: CFPB, Regulation M lease disclosures (current rule); Kelley Blue Book, Returning a Lease Car (September 2025); Kelley Blue Book, Car Leasing Guide (May 2026)
If you buy it out
Your contract sets the buyout price, usually when the lease starts. If the car is now worth more than that, buying it can be a good deal; if it's worth less, you can turn it in instead. Most states charge sales tax on a buyout.
Buying it out also means taking on the insurance and upkeep yourself. Here is what the savings calculator counts for a car like the ones Flexcar members drive.
Buying a typical Flexcar, the calculator counts about $76 a month for maintenance and repairs, less about $7 it credits for repairs the extended warranty pays, and $286 for insurance matched to Flexcar's protection as closely as a car loan allows, on top of the loan payment, for a 25–34 driver with good (670–739) credit driving about 15,000 miles a year, averaged across Flexcar's 8 markets.
Sources: Consumer Reports, Should You Buy the Car You're Leasing? (September 2026); Edmunds, Can You Sell a Leased Car? (March 2025)
Avoid a gap without a car
Approval takes minutes, and you get your car in days. Choose a pickup time at a Flexcar hub near you, or delivery where it's offered.
- A couple of months out: find your turn-in date, mileage allowance, and buyout price in your contract.
- A few weeks out: apply, choose your Flexcar, and set a pickup for the week you turn in the lease.
- Turn-in day: return the leased car and keep a copy of the inspection report.
Questions
Is there a down payment?
No. At checkout you pay your first month and tax, plus a refundable deposit if your approval includes one. The $249 annual membership is billed separately, 14 days after pickup.
How soon can I get my car?
Approval takes minutes, and you get your car in days. Choose a pickup time at a Flexcar hub near you, or delivery where it’s offered. Pickup at your local hub is free, and any delivery fee shows before you confirm.
Can I use my own insurance?
You don’t need to. Insurance comes with every Flexcar: liability coverage plus your choice of protection plan, Essential or Enhanced with a lower deductible and covered glass. Personal auto or credit card coverage can’t replace it.
Can I change cars when my needs change?
Yes. Choose another available Flexcar and schedule a swap for $199 (discounted with loyalty and rewards). Your monthly payment can change with the vehicle, mileage, and protection plan you select. Availability varies by location.
What if I don’t need a car anymore?
On a month-to-month plan, you can schedule a return without an early-termination penalty. You’re still responsible for applicable usage, damage, and other charges under your agreement. Plan-specific and state-specific terms can differ, so review your agreement before ordering or returning.
More guides
Savings are estimates for a 25–34 driver with good (670–739) credit driving about 15,000 miles a year, averaged across Flexcar’s 8 markets, using model-average prices as of October 2026. Flexing includes Essential protection, the annual membership, and Flexcar’s taxes and fees, with modeled price step-downs; buying includes financing, ownership costs, a dealer warranty and GAP, and the car’s resale value. Actual savings vary and aren’t guaranteed. Maintenance, covered repairs, and roadside come with the $249 annual membership. Estimates include each side’s taxes but not mileage beyond the driving assumed, swaps, damage, fuel, or tolls, and buying includes its cost of capital. Insurance limits, deductibles, and exclusions apply. Availability varies. Month-to-month returns have no early-termination penalty; usage and damage charges still apply. Terms vary by plan and state; see the Membership Agreement.