New data from 19,287 lease buyout transactions reveals younger buyers, rising equity, and the most favorable financing conditions in over a year

Lease End, the nation's leading online lease buyout platform, today released its 2026 Annual Lease Buyout Report — a data-driven analysis of 19,287 lease buyout transactions completed in 2025.

The report finds that drivers who chose to buy out their leases rather than return them collectively saved more than $73 million during 2025. These savings were fueled by an average of $5,500 in positive vehicle equity and the avoidance of costly mileage overage fees.

“At a time when affordability is stretched, this data shows that consumers who understand their options are putting themselves in a significantly better financial position,” said Lease End CEO and Co-Founder Brandon Williams. “Our goal has always been to bring transparency and simplicity to a process that historically hasn’t had either. Lease buyouts are giving consumers more control at the end of their lease, and we’re seeing that translate directly into real savings.”

The 2026 Annual Lease Buyout Report shows why the lease buyout is emerging as one of the clearest financial wins available to American drivers at the end of their lease term, even in a market defined by elevated new vehicle prices and persistent affordability pressure.

Key Findings

• Drivers saved an average of $100/month versus signing a new lease — more than $1,200 annually
• Average positive equity of $5,500+ across all top 10 most bought-out models
• The Ram 1500 overtook the Honda Civic as the #1 most bought-out vehicle in 2025
• Buyers are getting younger: the average driver age dropped to 47, down from 48 the previous year and 50 in 2022; Millennials and Gen Z now represent 47% of all buyouts
• Hybrid and EV buyouts grew from 6% to 9.1% year-over-year, with the Jeep Wrangler 4XE leading hybrid buyouts
• Financing conditions are the most favorable in over a year, with the 2026 YTD average APR at 9.03%, down from a February 2025 high of 9.70%

“The lease buyout has gone from a niche financial move to one of the clearest wins available to American drivers,” said Lease End CRO and Co-Founder Zander Cook. “In today’s market, the smartest move isn’t always getting into something new, it’s recognizing the value in what you already have. More drivers are realizing that their leased vehicle can be a financial asset, not just a temporary expense.”

Younger Drivers Are Discovering Lease Equity

One of the most significant trends in the 2026 report is the continued shift toward younger lease buyout customers. The average age of a Lease End driver has fallen from 50 in 2022 to 47 in 2025 — a three-year trend reflecting a growing financial awareness among Millennials and Gen Z.

Younger buyers are gravitating toward affordable, high-reliability models. Gen Z (18–29) buyers favor the Honda Civic, Honda Accord, and Kia Forte. Millennials (30–44) skew toward family-ready trucks and SUVs — the Ram 1500, Jeep Wrangler, and Jeep Grand Cherokee top their list.

The Vehicles Drivers Are Keeping

SUVs and crossovers dominate lease buyouts at 65%, followed by sedans (18%) and trucks (13%) — closely mirroring what Americans were leasing three years ago when these buyouts originated.

Honda leads all manufacturers in buyout volume for the second consecutive year, with four models in the top 10 (CR-V, Civic, Accord, HR-V) — all carrying average new monthly payments below $600 after a lease buyout transaction. The Honda CR-V posted the highest average equity of any model at $7,886.

The Jeep Wrangler ranked second overall and illustrates another key buyout driver: mileage overages. Wrangler lessees averaged 44,740 miles at buyout — 8,740 over the standard 36,000-mile allowance. By buying out rather than returning, those drivers avoided an average of $2,622 in overage fees.

Methodology

The Lease End 2026 Annual Lease Buyout Report is based on 19,287 lease buyout transactions completed between January 1 and December 31, 2025, supplemented by 2026 year-to-date insights. Data reflects Lease End customer transactions and is augmented by vehicle valuation data, market trends, and consumer finance behavior. APR figures represent averages across the full credit spectrum (minimum qualifying score: 520). State-level APR figures reflect the best average rates secured for drivers in each state; individual rates vary based on credit profile, loan amount, and lender availability.

About Lease End

Lease End is the nation's leading online lease buyout platform, helping drivers across the United States refinance and purchase their leased vehicles simply and affordably. Lease End has facilitated more than 50,000 lease buyout transactions since its founding in 2021, saving customers millions in fees and monthly payments. Learn more at leaseend.com.

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"At a time when affordability is stretched, this data shows that consumers who understand their options are putting themselves in a significantly better financial position." - Lease End CEO & Co-Founder Brandon Williams