1 year left on lease: can I use leasehackr broker for trade or do I have to go to dealer to buy car out?

Ask the Hackrs Buy/Finance
1

I am new to leasehackr and appreciate the insights. I have a 2024 Audi Q4 e-tron that will be due back to the dealer in August of 2025 (2 year lease/12k). I learned about leasehackr from a colleague and want to go the route of a broker for my next lease (make/model TBD). For my current vehicle, can a broker take care of the trade or do I have to buy my lease outright from the Audi dealer before trading in to lease a new vehicle?

2

Neither. You donā€™t have to buy it in order to trade it in to a dealer.

But brokers donā€™t work magic. If thereā€™s negative equity you can negotiate within reason to minimize it. But no one can take care of it in the sense of making the negative equity go away.

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3

Donā€™t trade it. Donā€™t buy it out. Drive it another 12 months and return it. Find a broker in July 25 and get a new lease.

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4

sorry, my question was unclear. I intend to complete the existing lease. My question was about nearing the end of this existing lease (through Audi) and if a lease broker would handle the return (trade-in) if I want to lease a new vehicle through the broker?

5

Yes they will

6

thank you. is there anything I should be aware of? any pitfalls or disadvantages to going the route of a broker vs. just returning it to Audi and starting a new lease with the dealer?

7

I would get in inspected 1st then sure send it back with the broker

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8

Audiā€™s have restricted returns so there is a chance the broker cannot accept it (Low Chance). Definitely get the inspection at 90 days so you donā€™t get any ā€˜gotchasā€™.

Also the broker may buy the car from you instead of returning it (Assuming any equity which is also low), and can be done before turn in date.

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9

So what is the reason for involving a broker then? I donā€™t understand. Return the car to the original dealer without involving the broker and lease something new with the broker.

10

Yes, that your lease contract is with a bank, likely Audi Financial. If there are any lease-end charges they will charge you regardless of whether you drove the lease to return it and ā€œground itā€ or a broker did.

So like @Batistuta said why are you involving someone to ā€œtake care ofā€ something for you when they cannot save you any money.

11

Several brokers charge delivery fees if there is no lease return (aka a way back!)

12

Thatā€™s probably over since there is not equity in 99% of cars. They would even prefer not to deal with a client lease return nowadays.

13

Saves the cost of an uber/ 2nd driver

14

#notacustomer

20202020

15

the question is if thereā€™s anything cost-prohibitive when returning my car to a broker vs just returning to the dealer. Financially, it appears more palatable to lease through a broker than the dealer, but not if there are a ton of fees associated with returning a vehicle to someone other than the lien holder.

16

There are no ā€œfeesā€ in letting a broker return your lease unless the broker charges something for this. A broker might return your lease as a favor or gesture of goodwill. The only thing theyā€™re going to do is drive your car to the closest Audi dealer (or one they have a relationship with) and turn in the lease on your behalf.

You still have to pay any lease end fees like damages or dispo regardless of whether you return it or a broker returns it.

Just rather than you returning it whenever is convenient, you now need to coordinate getting the car to the broker for them to return.

IMO trying to get a broker to return your lease is just overcomplicating something that is otherwise pretty simple.

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