How to Lease a Car in Los Angeles

Instead of buying or getting a loan for a new car, you can lease a new car to drive around Southern California. With the high cost of living in Los Angeles, leasing a car can be a good option; the monthly lease payment is usually lower than a car loan payment. Leasing a car in Los Angeles is no different than leasing a car in any other city in the United States. You do need to have top tier credit to qualify for the lease, which is generally an auto FICO score above 700.

Instructions

1

Look in the "Los Angeles Times" for car dealer ads for leasing specials. Finding a leasing special can lower your monthly leasing cost. Pay attention to the fine print, because some specials may not include sales tax and fees, which result in a higher monthly payment. The Edmunds Website maintains a list of current incentives and rebates that can help you find leasing specials in Los Angeles. Just enter in your Los Angeles zip code for results.

2

Determine how you long you to keep the car, so that you will know what lease term you want. Lease terms in Los Angeles are similar to other areas of the country; they can be between two and five years. According to Edmunds, a three-year lease is a popular choice.

3

Use an online auto calculator, such as the one on the Bankrate Website. (See Resources.) Estimate what your lease payment will be. This is a good idea if you are trying to decide between different vehicles.

4

Visit several Los Angeles area car dealers to narrow down the specific car that you want to lease. As you visit or talk with the various Los Angeles area dealers, you can also narrow down which dealer is offering you the best price.

5

Test drive the vehicle you want to lease. Considering the traffic situation in Los Angeles, you may want to schedule your test drive at an off-peak time for commuters. You will need your California driver's license and proof of insurance to test drive the vehicle. Test drive as many cars as you want to make your decision.

6

Negotiate with the salesperson once you are confident that you have found the car you want to lease. You can get quotes from multiple Los Angeles area dealers; try to play them against each other for a lower price. You can also look on the True Car Website (see Resources) to see what others have paid for the same vehicle in Los Angeles. The length of the lease, allotted annual mileage, down payment and monthly amount are the things you want to focus your negotiations on.

7

Review the lease agreement once you have come to an agreeable lease term. Check that all of the items you agreed on verbally are actually listed accurately in the lease agreement. Sign the lease, if everything is in order.