Mercedes-Benz Lease Ending? Return, Buy Out or Upgrade

Quick answer: When your Mercedes-Benz lease ends you have three choices: return it and walk away (paying any excess mileage or wear charges), buy it for the purchase price in your lease contract, or move into a new Mercedes-Benz, sometimes before the lease is over. Start planning about six months out. That gives you time to compare your buyout price with the car’s market value and to take advantage of any loyalty offers.

Option 1: return the car

You bring the car back, sign the odometer statement, and you are done. Expect possible charges for miles over your allowance, wear beyond normal use, and a disposition fee, all spelled out in your lease contract. Returning to a Mercedes-Benz dealer is the easiest path, and if you lease or buy another Mercedes-Benz, some fees may be reduced or waived under current Mercedes-Benz Financial Services programs. Ask us what applies to your account.

Option 2: buy the car

Your contract lists a purchase option price. If the car is worth more than that today, buying it can be a smart move, either to keep it or to trade it. If it is worth less, returning it usually makes more sense. We can tell you the car’s current value so you can compare. Financing a buyout works like financing any purchase.

Option 3: upgrade, even early

Many lessees move into a new model a few months before the lease ends. Depending on your mileage, your car’s value, and current offers, ending early can cost little or nothing. Year-end is often a good time to look, since model-year changeovers and year-end offers line up. Here is how end-of-model-year pricing worksand what loyalty incentives may be available to returning owners.

The lease-end inspection

About 90 days before your lease ends, you can schedule a complimentary inspection that shows what would be charged as excess wear. Common items:

• Tires below minimum tread depth or mismatched
• Curb-rashed wheels
• Windshield chips and cracks
• Dents, deep scratches or paint damage larger than normal wear
• Interior stains, tears or burns
• Missing keys, manuals or floor mats

Knowing early lets you fix things on your terms, often for less. Our certified collision center and service department can handle repairs before you turn the car in.

Over your miles?

If you are well over your mileage allowance, buying the car or upgrading early can be cheaper than paying per-mile charges at return. Run the numbers with us before you decide.

Your lease-end timeline

1. 6 months out: check your mileage and buyout price, and start looking at what is next.
2. 3 months out: schedule the lease-end inspection.
3. 1 to 2 months out: handle any repairs, and lock in your next vehicle.
4. Return day: bring both keys, the manuals, and any accessories that came with the car.

Let us look at your options

Bring your lease details to Mercedes-Benz of Gilbert and we will lay out all three options side by side. Learn more about lease returns at Mercedes-Benz of Gilbert, call (480) 407-5800, or visit us at 3455 S Gilbert Rd.

Frequently asked questions

Can I buy my Mercedes-Benz at the end of the lease?

Yes. Your lease contract lists the purchase option price. Compare it to the car’s current value before deciding.

Can I end my Mercedes-Benz lease early?

Often, yes, by trading into a new vehicle. Whether it costs you anything depends on your mileage, the car’s value and current offers.

When should I schedule my lease-end inspection?

About 90 days before the lease ends, so you have time to address anything it finds.