Zero Down Leasing

Can I Qualify for a Zero-Down Car Lease?

A lot of people are looking for zero-down leases when they are in the market for a new car or SUV. Car dealerships and manufacturers may offer no down payment on a lease to pull in prospective customers, and highlight cars and SUVs they have on their lots. Prospective buyers may want one for a number of reasons, but typically to save money up front.

Find Your New Infiniti

Considering a non-refundable payment of $1,500, $2,500, $4,000 or more at the start of a lease, it makes sense that you may want to spend less when you sign on the dotted line. If you are looking to lease a car but don't have cash for a down payment, you may want to find a 0-down lease. But "zero-down" does not mean that you can simply go to Sheehy INFINITI of Annapolis (or another dealership in Annapolis) with an empty wallet and drive away in a new car without paying. Even with a zero-down lease, you will still have to pay fees, sales tax, and commonly the first month’s lease payment. 0-downs are more of a risk for the leasing company if you default. That is why, normally, no-deposit car leases are only available to customers with the best credit rating, or what we refer to as "Tier 1". Call us at (888) 257-6979 if you want to find out if you qualify or to talk about the best option for you for leasing a new car.

0-down leases are the right choice for someone who wants to drive a new car or SUV without a large initial investment, but they may not be your best option.

When you make a down payment on a traditional lease, this decreases the total amount of money on the lease and reduces your monthly payments.

Think of it this way: invest in a larger down payment upfront and you'll decrease your monthly payment cost. Pay no money down upfront and you will pay a little bit more every month.

If your goal is to save money on leasing a car, negotiate a price in your budget from the get-go. Getting the lowest price possible on a car will normally result in lower monthly payments.

During the term of your lease, your vehicle is actually still owned by a leasing company. If you get in an accident and total the vehicle or if it is stolen, your insurance company will make payments to the title holder, and the lease contract will end.

If you make a down payment on a typical lease and your car is totaled, the thousands of dollars that you put down will be a sunk cost. Even if you’ve just driven the vehicle for few miles and paid for gap insurance - you will still lose the down payment. And that can hurt.

That is one of the top reasons why you might like a 0-down lease.