Leasing a car can make more sense than an outright purchase under a specific set of circumstances. The most significant factor is your average annual vehicle miles. If you put less than 15,000 miles per year on your car, leasing might be a good option.

Why leasing a car is a bad idea?

The major drawback of leasing is that you don't acquire any equity in the vehicle. It's a bit like renting an apartment. You make monthly payments but have no ownership claim to the property once the lease expires. In this case, it means you can't sell the car or trade it in to reduce the cost of your next vehicle.

Is leasing a car a waste of money?

With leasing, you don't have any ownership rights to the car. ... You don't normally earn equity when you lease, typically because what you owe on the car only catches up to its value at the end of a lease. This could be viewed as a waste of money by some, since you're not gaining equity.