Looking for some strategic advice on the best way to exit my Rivian R1S lease early. I’m a massive Rivian nerd and actually just picked up a lightly used 2026 Quad, so I have no need for two of them in the garage through the fall.
I know Chase doesn’t allow standard lease transfers, so I’m trying to figure out the cleanest math to exit early or put together a creative local deal that makes sense for someone else.
Here are the core numbers:
Vehicle: Rivian R1S Tri-Max (Storm Blue / Ascend Interior)
Current Monthly Payment: $1,980
Remaining Payments: 4 left (Lease ends December 5, 2026 - 24 mos lease)
Current Buyout: ~$80,000
Current Mileage: 16,000 miles
Lease Terms: 24-Month / 12k miles per year (24,000 total allowed, so 8,000 miles of headroom left).
Condition: Meticulously cared for. Fully wrapped in XPEL clear bra on the front, tinted windows, and ceramic coated.
Option 1: The “Write a Check and Walk” Strategy I am entirely willing to just cut a check for the final 4 payments and ground the lease early to get it out of my hair. If I go this route, does anyone have experience with Chase’s early grounding process regarding inspection timelines and turn-in fees? I scheduled a inspection with Chase on Thursday to get the vehicle condition report , but not sure if I can just do the turn in after and pay off the remaining payments
Option 2: The Creative Chicago Local Deal Since the truck has 8,000 miles of remaining lease buffer and is in pristine shape, I’m open to structuring a local Chicagoland deal. Essentially, someone “sublets” the vehicle for the remaining 4 months at a heavily reduced rate, with a structured contractual agreement to buy out the vehicle at the end of the term (or execute the buyout immediately if they want to bypass the wait).
I just picked up an amazing deal on a 2026 R1S Quad Motor that was a dealer trade-in and thus decided to go ownership next as that was my dream config.
What I’m looking for from the community:
Has anyone successfully executed a similar private buyout path with Chase recently?
If I go the early grounding route, is there any hidden friction I should look out for beyond paying the remaining depreciation chunk?
Open to feedback on the viability of Option 2, or open to hearing from any local Chicago folks who want a short-term, low-cost R1S trial before buying it out at the end of the term.
It’s going to be specific to Chase/Rivian and not necessarily what a Subaru or Land Rover customer experienced. Your best bet is to call Rivian Financial Services or send them a message thru the website.
I haven’t read the Rivian standard lease, but every standard lease I’ve read in the past 10 years had an assignment clause that expressly forbids this. When you contact RFS for the early termination details, ask for a copy of the complete lease agreement and check the assignment clause to see what you’re allowed to do.
Option 1 - what is the early termination language in your agreement? Any other penalties and fees? The difference between what you owe and what it fetches at auction?
Option 3 - sell to a third party. Even if Chase doesn’t allow third party buyouts, is it worth you buying it out (+taxes) and selling it to another dealer?
Assuming your R1S is a 2024 model, it looks like retail on these is about $70K+. You owe $80K. You can write an $8K check, plus the disposition fee, and be done with it. Chase/Rivian will not allow 3rd party buyouts. Have you checked to see how much a Rivian dealer will give you for it?
have you already tried Carmax / Carvana / GMTV / selling to a dealer? Shop around for offers and see what the difference is from buyout. any dealer can buyout rivian leases
It’s a 2025 R1S. Confirmed with Chase that the max I would is the remaining 4 payments + disposition fee , it could be less if they fetch more at auction.
It is, 2025 R1S TriMax Ascend. I don’t think there is equity, my buy out is $80 and I have $7,920 in payments left. I see a half dozen TriMax Ascends listed on Auto Trader for about $85k on average (mostly higher miles).
Seems my best luck would be they get a good price for it auction if I turn it in , and I’d owe less than the $400 Disposition + the $7,920 I left in payments. I did contact Chase and confirm I can land it early and the most I’d owe is the payments + disposition (and any other liabilities / damage).
I guess I could try to sell it private party on the Rivian forums for $85k , the dealers seem to be all around that $ number.
Since you’re not over miles, and assuming the insurance isn’t outrageous, I would keep it for another month or two then return it early. Go take some long road trip you’ve always wanted to go on.
Ah, OK. I thought the buyout included the remaining payments. Yeah, as others mentioned, you might just want to hold it for a few months and put some miles on it versus the new car. Maybe it will hold its value heading into Fall.
I have a Rivian lease also. If the web site is showing 80k buyout isn’t that the price if you buy it out right there I don’t think the lease payments are on top of that unless I’m missing something.
