Subaru won't lease to a non-resident?

Ask the Hackrs
1

Hi all,
I’m relative new to the forum but have been reading and learning a lot in the past 2 weeks.
I had a really weird experience at a subaru dealer tonight and would appreciate any feedback from you guys.
After a week of negotiating via email on a subaru impreaz (got a great deal, 16% off MSRP) I drive down to the dealership and after they ran my credit (I have excellent credit) they noticed that I’m on a H1B working visa (my greencard application was approved but it will take at least 6 more months until I get it), so he goes to see his manager and comes back telling me the Subaru Motors Finance will NOT lease cars to non-permanent residences.
He even added that if I do financing they wouldn’t go with Subaru Motors Finance but with a different bank.
I get home and call Subaru Motors Finance and the representative tells they don’t handle the lease applications and suggested I try a different dealer!

Did anyone here experience or hear anything similar to this before?
Thanks!

2

How did they notice by running your credit about your H1b visa? That doesnt sound right. I have helped many people and all that has been asked for is paystubs.

3

On me driving license it says “temp immgr status”.
The funny thing is that I leased a Rav4 in 2012.

4

I find that difficult to believe, my wife and I moved to the US from the UK last year on an L1 visa so we’re only here temporarily from a legal perspective. We could lease from any European or Asian manufacturer that I researched, everything from Honda to Porsche. I didn’t check Subaru but I would have thought they’d be more flexible like other brands as they often are provided by the same financial institutions.

We did have to prove our visa status, right to work and passport to get finance.

5

That might be the reason cause of that written. In Florida it usually says only TEMPORARY. But i have never seen any Japanese brands require anything as long as credit is excellent.

6

Maybe I’m imagining but I have a feeling they didn’t really want to go forward with the deal.
The dealer didn’t even look disappointed at all! He literally said “sorry can’t help you, bye-bye, good night”.

7

Well then honestly, they dont deserve your business. A good dealer will always try his best to make a deal as long as he is not doing anything wrong.

8

I get that feeling as well. Our visa status is temporary as well and with your excellent credit you shouldn’t have a problem, a little more paperwork and time but not much.

I’d try emailing another dealer (Internet sales dept) laying out what you want, for how much, your details and see what they say. They ought to be interested.

9

I agree, they don’t deserve my business and every thing happens for a reason.
Thanks

10

Maybe keep proof of this should it ever come up again.

Congrats btw! I don’t think any natural born citizens realize how hard and expensive this is.

2 Likes
11

Thanks max_g, it was very expensive!

1 Like
12

More than the expense, I beleive its the complexity of the system and how the process works and not to forget how long it takes. And yes congrats and good luck

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