Whether or not regular maintenance is covered in your lease depends on the lease agreement. Some leasing companies offer no-cost maintenance services, but it has to be done at a brand-specific dealership. Although it’s rare to find a lease contract from a luxury brand that doesn’t have some form of maintenance coverage, most leases don’t offer this type of protection.

Following a Leased Car’s Maintenance Schedule

Is Maintenance Covered in a Car Lease?If the lease contract you choose doesn’t cover regular maintenance like oil changes or tire rotations, this doesn’t mean you should skip out on doing these services. New vehicles come with a manufacturer-backed warranty that states the maintenance requirements needed in order to keep it in force. Just like owning a car, you need to take in a leased vehicle for routine maintenance, or maintain it yourself. One of the biggest mistakes you can make with a brand new leased car is not following the maintenance schedule.

You should take the leased vehicle in for oil changes, tire rotations, and filter replacements once it hits a specific time or mileage. If you skip basic maintenance, you could void the new car warranty as well as cause more problems and end up paying to repair the vehicle. Plus, at the end of the lease, the car is inspected for any excess wear and tear. If anything is found, you’re going to be charged to have it repaired.

To avoid excess wear and tear charges, you should fix any other issues that aren’t covered by the new vehicle warranty or your contract on top of keeping up with basic maintenance. It’s better to return the car in the best shape possible than to be hit with a charge for not repairing it.

Should I Have GAP Insurance with a Lease?

One of the most important things you need to keep in mind when choosing a lease contract is GAP insurance. Guaranteed asset protection (GAP) insurance protects you in the event the leased vehicle is stolen or totaled. GAP insurance covers the difference between the amount you owe on the lease and the car’s actual cash value. Although most leases include this coverage, it's your responsibility to pay for the difference out of pocket if yours doesn't and the vehicle is stolen or totaled.

You should ask the leasing company about their lease plan and GAP coverage before signing the contract. If GAP insurance isn’t part of the lease, you should consider either finding a different plan or taking out a separate GAP insurance policy.

The Bottom Line

What is and isn't covered in a lease contract depends on the leasing company. You should always ask questions about maintenance, GAP insurance, and excess wear and tear charges before signing a contract. If you’re stuck on whether or not you should lease a car with bad credit or buy a vehicle outright, or are struggling with credit in general, let Auto Credit Express help you out.

While we aren't lenders and can't get you an auto loan, we do work with an extensive network of special finance dealerships with the lenders available to help people in all kinds of credit situations. So, if you're looking for your next car loan or lease, skip all the driving around town and let us connect you to a local dealer now! All you have to do is fill out our easy and secure auto loan request form today.