Top 10 Reasons Drivers Exit A Lease

A recent national leasing survey from Swapalease.com says concerns about mileage ranked seventh out of 10 for today’s top reasons why people want out of their car lease.

Thousands of drivers across the country had the chance to rank the top reasons why they want out of a vehicle lease, and the top reasons saw a big shift compared to a similar survey in 2008.

The number one reason drivers want out of their lease today is that they no longer need their car (relocation, received company car, deceased family member). This replaces financial concerns, which was the top reason back in 2008 but slipped to second on the recent list.

Fear of gas prices also scored surprisingly low on today’s list of concerns (eighth). "In 2008 gas prices ranked sixth when the national average of gas was near $4 a gallon," said Scot Hall, Executive Vice President of the company. "We just saw a summer of repeated gas-price increases yet these price spikes do not seem to be negatively impacting people and their driving habits."

Overall lifestyle changes (growing family, job status) ranked fourth in the most recent poll, compared to 2008 when it ranked second on drivers’ list of concerns.

Possibly due to the rapidly improving features and in-vehicle technology found in cars year-to-year, people listed "dislike present vehicle" as the fifth most popular reason, up from eighth in 2008.

Top 10 Reasons People Escape Their Leased Vehicle:                         

Reasons In 2012   
Reasons In 2008


1: No Longer Need Vehicle  
1: Financial Concerns
2: Financial Concerns     
2: Lifestyle Changes
3: Want A New Car
3: Want A New Car
4: Lifestyle Changes 
4: Mileage Concerns
5: Dislike Present Vehicle 
5: No Longer Need Vehicle
6: Family Size  
6: Gas Prices
7: Mileage Concerns 
7: Family Size
8: Gas Prices
8: Dislike Present Vehicle
9: Insurance Costs   
9: Insurance Costs
10: Maintenance 10: Maintenance