# Asking those of you who are sales road warriors! Car allowance: Used vs. New/Lease advice **URL:** \ **Category:** Off-Ramp\ **Created:** [September 19, 2026, 5:59pm UTC](https://forum.leasehackr.com/t/asking-those-of-you-who-are-sales-road-warriors-car-allowance-used-vs-new-lease-advice/782729 "2026-09-19T17:59:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![luckydpt](https://leasehackr.b-cdn.net/letter_avatar/luckydpt/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@luckydpt](https://forum.leasehackr.com/u/luckydpt)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2026, 5:59pm UTC](https://forum.leasehackr.com/t/asking-those-of-you-who-are-sales-road-warriors-car-allowance-used-vs-new-lease-advice/782729/1 "2026-09-19T17:59:11Z")
Hello LH community. I am going to be starting a new position with a great med device company in 2 weeks and would love your input/guidance. I am going to be getting a modest “monthly allowance $$$” for a car payment plus a smaller amount of $ for mileage in a “per-mile” amount. I will fond out more from the company after I start of exactly what the amount will be (I expect allowance in the $550/month range). From other reps in the company I spoke with I should anticipate about 15-18k miles per year of driving which would put me over mileage for most leases. I need a small SUV or Wagon as I might need to transport our patient monitoring equipment. My ADD brain is all over the place as what to look into. I want to be comfortable and not hate my travels (Eastern PA) and also need AWD for the lovely PA winters. The only company requirement is it has to be newer than 7 years old. TIA for any advice. Happy Weekend Everyone!!! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![justsharing](https://leasehackr.b-cdn.net/letter_avatar/justsharing/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@justsharing](https://forum.leasehackr.com/u/justsharing)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2026, 6:10pm UTC](https://forum.leasehackr.com/t/asking-those-of-you-who-are-sales-road-warriors-car-allowance-used-vs-new-lease-advice/782729/2 "2026-09-19T18:10:58Z")
Depending on the “per mile” reimbursement rate (if anything more than $0.30/mile), I would still lean towards leasing a good hybrid SUV (i.e. Cx50 hybrid) for 15k miles a year, which will cost less than $500/month. So your overage is covered, some $ saved for extra maintenance & per-mile reimbursement coveres any excess miles. Any decent 25-30k used car will run $500-600/month with more expected repairs due to high miles you’ll put on it. That’s my $0.01 ---
**Author:** ![luckydpt](https://leasehackr.b-cdn.net/letter_avatar/luckydpt/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@luckydpt](https://forum.leasehackr.com/u/luckydpt)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2026, 7:43pm UTC](https://forum.leasehackr.com/t/asking-those-of-you-who-are-sales-road-warriors-car-allowance-used-vs-new-lease-advice/782729/3 "2026-09-19T19:43:07Z")
Thanks @justsharing I think it’s $0.25/mile but I am still waiting for my “official start” when I get the actual info. Good thought on the Cx50 … I actually like the look of them. Just have to make sure it’s comfortable. Thanks again! ---
**Author:** ![BYGFEET](https://leasehackr.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/forum.leasehackr.com/bygfeet/32/14026_2.png) [@BYGFEET](https://forum.leasehackr.com/u/BYGFEET)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2026, 7:52pm UTC](https://forum.leasehackr.com/t/asking-those-of-you-who-are-sales-road-warriors-car-allowance-used-vs-new-lease-advice/782729/4 "2026-09-19T19:52:38Z")
Just BUY a Toyota Rav4, with two thirds of the payments covered by your employer-you’re already ahead ---
**Author:** ![mani\_is\_kool](https://leasehackr.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/forum.leasehackr.com/mani_is_kool/32/11116_2.png) [@mani\_is\_kool](https://forum.leasehackr.com/u/mani_is_kool)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2026, 8:35pm UTC](https://forum.leasehackr.com/t/asking-those-of-you-who-are-sales-road-warriors-car-allowance-used-vs-new-lease-advice/782729/5 "2026-09-19T20:35:43Z")
Do you have to consider the cost of insurance in that $550 payment as well ? If open to electric, @douglashowitzer just shared some sick Proluge deals from North East. And Honda excess miles is $.15 per mile I think and they are one of the few companies that I believe offered 18k mpy leases as well. If not open to electric, CRV might be a good fit as well. ---
**Author:** ![luckydpt](https://leasehackr.b-cdn.net/letter_avatar/luckydpt/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@luckydpt](https://forum.leasehackr.com/u/luckydpt)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2026, 8:45pm UTC](https://forum.leasehackr.com/t/asking-those-of-you-who-are-sales-road-warriors-car-allowance-used-vs-new-lease-advice/782729/6 "2026-09-19T20:45:22Z")
Thanks for the info… And… Yes to both… I have to consider insurance but that’s no big deal… I certainly have the multi-car discount as I do have a problem. 😉 . I also have a home fast charger as I had a Tesla in the past and currently have one of those killer 2025 Ford Lightning Flash deals from over a year ago. I’d also consider an EV ( a used Model Y and I did see the Prologue deals)… those are certainly tempting and some to consider. ---
**Author:** ![Frankenbrew](https://leasehackr.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/forum.leasehackr.com/frankenbrew/32/200074_2.png) [@Frankenbrew](https://forum.leasehackr.com/u/Frankenbrew)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2026, 2:00pm UTC](https://forum.leasehackr.com/t/asking-those-of-you-who-are-sales-road-warriors-car-allowance-used-vs-new-lease-advice/782729/7 "2026-09-21T14:00:03Z")
Whatever you decide make sure to sit your butt in the seat. As I’m sure you know, that’s a lot of miles and you want to make sure you’re comfortable. Volvo has some of the most comfortable seats, in my opinion. Not sure what an XC60 will run you or if you have the required incentives to get toward your price range, but I’d look at that. ---
**Author:** ![luckydpt](https://leasehackr.b-cdn.net/letter_avatar/luckydpt/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@luckydpt](https://forum.leasehackr.com/u/luckydpt)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2026, 5:02pm UTC](https://forum.leasehackr.com/t/asking-those-of-you-who-are-sales-road-warriors-car-allowance-used-vs-new-lease-advice/782729/8 "2026-09-25T17:02:54Z")
Great advice… taking that into consideration. I do not want to be uncomfortable. I am hoping that my search will align nicely with EOM/EOQ for some good deals. I need to pull the trigger in the next week and it seems there might be some good deals brewing. Does anyone know what companies have the lowest per-mileage charge if over miles? How does Mercedes, Volvo, Honda compare? seems all are about $0.25/mile. ---
**Author:** ![Frankenbrew](https://leasehackr.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/forum.leasehackr.com/frankenbrew/32/200074_2.png) [@Frankenbrew](https://forum.leasehackr.com/u/Frankenbrew)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2026, 9:57pm UTC](https://forum.leasehackr.com/t/asking-those-of-you-who-are-sales-road-warriors-car-allowance-used-vs-new-lease-advice/782729/9 "2026-09-25T21:57:23Z")
Nissan/Infinity is one of, if not the best as you can buy before end of lease for something like .10 per mile. Not sure if any of their lineup is interesting to you, but Infinity has had great deals for a while now. ---
**Author:** ![mrhills](https://leasehackr.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/forum.leasehackr.com/mrhills/32/237878_2.png) [@mrhills](https://forum.leasehackr.com/u/mrhills)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2026, 8:37pm UTC](https://forum.leasehackr.com/t/asking-those-of-you-who-are-sales-road-warriors-car-allowance-used-vs-new-lease-advice/782729/10 "2026-09-29T20:37:23Z")
Lease or buy new, and you’ll just need a lease-or-buy calculator in excel (Claude can build for ya) to orient you on which makes more sense financially. That is the point of the allowance from the employer’s perspective, minimize the risk of down time. ---
**Author:** ![luckydpt](https://leasehackr.b-cdn.net/letter_avatar/luckydpt/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@luckydpt](https://forum.leasehackr.com/u/luckydpt)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2026, 11:32pm UTC](https://forum.leasehackr.com/t/asking-those-of-you-who-are-sales-road-warriors-car-allowance-used-vs-new-lease-advice/782729/11 "2026-09-29T23:32:20Z")
Thanks @Frankenbrew … We actually just picked up a QX60 from @aronchi 2 weeks ago for my wife. They are great and I did see the $0.10 mileage option. And to @mrhills point… I just started my new job yesterday and will probably pull the trigger on a new (2026 left over) CRV Hybrid or Subaru Outback. They both hold values really well and check the boxes I need for capacity and AWD. I just spoke with my new colleagues and said realistically I will probably be at 20k to 22k miles a year. I don’t think it makes sense to lease. Crazy enough used 2025 CRV’s with 20-30k miles are selling for close to full sticker price. Crazy.