How do you get out of an auto lease w/o damaging your credit?

Question

After about six months I've realized that 1)I don't need the size car I leased and 2) that I didn't lease my last car and wish I hadn't leased this one
How can I get out of it or switch cars w/o messing up my credit. I don't have problems with the payments and can afford it, I just don't want the one I have. Can I swap it for a purchase? The lease is for 36 months, so I'm looking at another 2 1/2 years.

Answer 1

Contact the company you leased from. Most have early termination fees (which can be quite high) but allow you to get out of your lease early.

You can sell you lease.
Try places like:
http://www.swapalease.com
http://www.leasetrader.com

Answer 2

Sure, go to the dealer that you leased it from and tell them you hate it, you are looking to buy, and would like to end the lease and buy a new car or trade lease cars.
As long as you haven't put allot of miles on the lease you have or haven't damaged it they will usually accommodate you in getting a different lease car. Usually they will want you to upgrade and not down grade.
So look around and make sure your going to happy with the car your trading for or buying, chances are you will only do this once.
Make sure that you have the financial backing or a letter of credit when you go in if you are going to purchase a new car, this will tell the dealer that you are not there to test drive and look you want something.
And make the best deal possible, if you buy a new car they are going to have to figure out how to justify the rest of the lease, and they usually due this by adding this in on the price of the new car.
Best Regards.

Answer 3

Trade the car, it is the best way for you to get the car that you don't want in the market and if you trade, the lease will be purchased by the other leasee to allow you to trade your car. This way you will only have to pay transaction fees and the difference in money for the car you are planning to get and it will not affect your credit.