If you're considering a residual price lease car, one key factor to consider is the potential for residual value. The residual value of a leased car is the estimated value of the vehicle at the end of the lease term.
For example, if you lease a car for 3 years with a residual value of $10,000, you'll need to pay the difference between the car's original price and the residual value at the end of the lease. This can add up quickly, so it's essential to understand the residual value of the car you're interested in.
A good rule of thumb is to factor in the residual value when calculating your total lease costs. This will give you a more accurate picture of what you can expect to pay over the life of the lease.
What is a Residual Price Lease Car?
A residual price lease car is essentially a vehicle that is leased with a predetermined residual value. This value is the estimated worth of the car at the end of the lease, which can affect the overall cost of leasing.
Leasing a car with a high residual value can be beneficial because it may result in lower monthly payments. However, it's essential to ensure the vehicle is kept in great condition to maintain its residual value.
If you're interested in leasing a car with a specific residual price, consider checking with your preferred manufacturer for leasing specials, which can help lower costs.
What is a Car?
A car is essentially a vehicle you can drive, and leasing one is kind of like renting it for a set amount of time.
The difference with a lease is that the lion’s share of your monthly payment is for the cost of vehicle depreciation.
Your car’s value at the end of the lease is what’s referred to as its residual value, which is essentially the value of the vehicle after depreciation.
Leasing a car is a common way to get behind the wheel of a new car without committing to owning it outright.
What It Means
A residual price lease car is a type of car financing where you pay a fixed amount each month for a set period of time, and then return the car to the dealership.
You'll typically pay a down payment, followed by a series of monthly installments, which can add up to a significant total sum. For instance, in one case, the total sum paid was around 16.7 L INR.
At the end of the lease, you have several options. You can return the car to the dealership, which will assess its value and compare it to the remaining 50% value at the start of the contract.
If the current value is higher, you can get the difference paid to you, or use it as a down payment for your next car. However, if the car's value is lower, you'll need to make up the difference to the 50% sum.
You can also choose to pay the remaining sum in full and own the car outright, or switch to a regular loan with straight amortization to pay off the remaining value of the car.
Here are your options in more detail:
- Return the car to the dealership and get a valuation; compare it to the remaining 50% value at contract start, and get the difference paid to you or use it for a down payment.
- Pay the remaining sum in full and own the car outright.
- Switch to a regular loan with straight amortization to pay off the remaining value of the car.
Leasing Considerations
If you're considering leasing a car, it's essential to think about your lifestyle and preferences. Leasing can be a great option if you want to drive a new car every few years or aren't sure if you want to buy a certain model.
Leasing companies often offer leasing specials that can help lower costs, so be sure to check with your preferred manufacturer to see what's available. These specials can vary depending on the make and model, so it's worth doing your research.
To get the best deal, negotiate the lease terms to ensure you're getting a fair price. Keeping the vehicle in great condition will also help maintain its residual value, which is essential for a smooth leasing experience.
Here are some key factors to consider when leasing a car:
- Leasing can help lower your monthly outflow compared to paying for the full value of the car.
- Leasing works well if you want to change cars within shorter intervals.
- Leasing is often a more affordable option if you're not sure if you want to buy a certain model.
What Is a Novated Lease?
A novated lease is a type of lease agreement that allows you to lease a car and claim the expenses as a tax deduction. It's a popular option for people who want to own a car but don't want to pay the full purchase price upfront.
The novated lease residual value is the amount you'll need to pay at the end of the lease term to own the car. This amount is calculated as a percentage of the cost of the vehicle, and it depends on the length of your lease. A shorter lease term means a higher residual amount, while a longer lease means a lower residual.
Here are some key points to understand about novated leases:
- The residual value is set at the start of your novated lease agreement and is fixed at that point.
- Residual value percentages are generally the same for all vehicle types.
- The residual falls due at the end of your lease term.
- You can't salary sacrifice your car's residual value – it must be covered with after-tax money.
- The residual amount owed on the car is inclusive of GST.
When the residual payment is due, you'll have several options to consider. You can pay the residual amount using cash, trade in your car and use the sale value to cover the residual, or refinance the residual into a new novated lease term.
Novated Example
Let's take a closer look at a novated lease example. The Toyota RAV4 Edge is a great example of this. It costs $61,200 and has a residual value of 28.13% of its cost, or $17,301 (including GST), on a five-year lease.
A shorter lease term, like three years, would result in a higher residual value of 46.88% of the cost of the vehicle, or $28,833 (including GST).
If you were to trade in your old car and use the sale value to cover the residual, you'd need to consider the potential profit or loss. For instance, if you traded in a five-year-old RAV4 Edge for $36,000 to $48,000, you could potentially keep a tax-free profit of between $19,000 and $31,000.
Here are your options for making the residual payment:
1. Pay the residual amount using cash
2. Trade in your car and use the sale value to cover the residual
3. Refinance the residual into a new novated lease term
It's worth noting that the residual value is a fixed amount set at the start of your lease, so even if vehicle prices increase, your residual will not change. This means you could potentially sell your car for more than the residual amount and keep the profit, tax-free.
Disadvantages of Financing
Financing with residual value may have its advantages, but it's not without its drawbacks. One significant disadvantage is that you can't use the car itself to raise the money needed to pay off the loan.
You see, with conventional hypothecation, you can sell the car to a new owner, as long as they take on the hypothecation. This isn't possible with residual value financing, where you have to first close the contract and own the car outright before selling it.
This means that if you need to get out of a contract, you'll have to find another way to pay off the loan, which can be stressful and costly. The remaining value of the car, which is calculated at the time of signing the contract, may not correspond to the actual value of the car when the contract time ends.
For example, if you financed a car with a residual value of 50%, you might not be able to sell it for that amount if the market value has decreased. In this case, you'll have to make up for the difference yourself, which can be a financial burden.
Here are some examples of the potential financial implications of residual value financing:
Overall, while residual value financing can be a convenient option, it's essential to carefully consider the potential drawbacks before making a decision.
The Importance of
Calculating residual value can be a game-changer for car leasing companies and dealerships, as it helps them determine the total sum to use in their depreciation schedules.
Most companies choose to calculate the residual value at the end of the year and record any changes accordingly.
Knowing a vehicle's residual value also allows lessees to determine how much they'll need to pay before they formally sign the contract.
Car depreciation affects every vehicle, and it forms the basis for countless important decisions companies make.
Residual value insurance can be a smart investment for companies that own several fixed assets, including vehicles, as it reduces asset-value risk by ensuring the asset won't be worth less than a specified amount by a certain date.
This value, along with the interest and tax rate, allows car leasing companies to charge lessees a fair price for driving a vehicle over a certain period.
How Monthly Payments Are Affected
Monthly payments on a car lease can be affected by several factors, but one of the most important is residual value. The higher the residual value, the lower the monthly payments.
For example, if you lease a Toyota RAV4 Edge for five years, the residual value would be 28.13% of the vehicle's cost, or $17,301 (including GST). This means your monthly payments would be lower than if the residual value was lower.
Residual value is calculated as a percentage of the car's MSRP, and it can vary depending on the make and model of the vehicle. For instance, a shorter lease term of three years on the same car would have a residual value of 46.88% of the cost, or $28,833 (including GST).
Here's a rough guide to how residual value affects monthly lease payments:
So, if you're looking to lower your monthly payments, consider choosing a vehicle with a higher residual value. However, keep in mind that this may mean you'll have to pay a larger amount when the lease ends.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I negotiate the residual value of a car lease?
No, you cannot negotiate the residual value of a car lease when signing off on the lease. Understanding the residual value is crucial to making informed decisions about your lease.
Sources
- https://www.novatedleaseaustralia.com.au/residual-value
- https://www.creditkarma.com/auto/i/residual-value-determined
- https://www.team-bhp.com/news/financing-car-residual-value-how-it-works-pros-cons
- https://www.caranddriver.com/auto-loans/a43168092/residual-value-lease/
- https://capitalmotorcars.com/residual-value-what-you-need-to-know-before-you-lease-a-car/
Featured Images: pexels.com