In terms of out-of-pocket spending, leasing costs $2,584 less over six years than buying a new car, excluding any maintenance and repair costs the new car might incur. The out-of-pocket cost of buying a used car is $5,547 cheaper than leasing and $8,131 cheaper than buying a new car.

Is leasing a car a waste of money?

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 it worth it to lease a car?

“Buying a car is almost always better than leasing a car,” Baumeister stresses. ... Lease a car if you simply love driving a new car every three years and the cost is worth it to you. As long as you're aware, it's fine to make a conscious decision to spend more for your cars than might be necessary.