May 12, 2010 10:13 ET

Lease Buyouts on the Rise Through LeaseTrader.com

Many View LeaseTrader.com as an Extended Test Drive Opportunity When Car Shopping

MIAMI, FL--(Marketwire - May 12, 2010) -  LeaseTrader.com, the nation's most popular car lease marketplace, says over the last 12 months the number of drivers that exercise their car lease end buyout option has doubled and the category now represents nearly 16.7 percent of all buyers.

Almost all car leasing contracts allow drivers to buy out the car at the end of the lease for the pre-determined residual value. This option benefits people that decide they'd like to own the vehicle after "renting" it from the bank during the lease contract.

Many drivers now view LeaseTrader.com as a way to test drive a vehicle for an extended period of time. Combined with the renewed emphasis on spending wisely, more drivers are taking over an auto lease and buying out the car after making sure they like the vehicle during the remaining months on the contract.

"Drivers can find out a lot about a car when they drive it for eight or 12 months, like how it handles, maintenance schedules and the overall condition," said Sergio Stiberman, CEO and founder of LeaseTrader.com. "Many people in this situation feel there is low risk involved since they are only committed to the short-term contract to see if they end up falling in love with the car."

With the stabilization of the credit markets, strengthening residuals on many vehicles has created a lot of confidence in lease buyouts. The majority of LeaseTrader.com's customers are exercising lease end buyout options on vehicles like the BMW X3, BMW 3 Series, Mercedes ML350, Honda Civic, as well as the Toyota Camry and Corolla. Customers can save on a lot of traditional car-shopping costs since there is no down payment through lease swap on LeaseTrader.com.

About LeaseTrader.com
The most recognized name in car leasing, LeaseTrader.com easily and affordably matches car shoppers with individuals looking to escape their auto lease. Privately held and founded in 1998, LeaseTrader.com is headquartered in Miami. For more information visit www.LeaseTrader.com, on Twitter @Lease_Trader, or call 800-770-0207.