Lease Mileage: 7,500 vs. 10,000 vs. 12,000 Miles a Year
How to pick the right lease mileage allowance, what each tier costs per month, and what the overage charge is per mile if you go over.
Mileage is the lease decision people get wrong most often, in both directions.
Figure out what you actually drive
Don't guess. Look at your current car's odometer, look at when you got it, and divide. Most people who "drive a lot" are at 11,000. Most people who "barely drive" are at 8,500. The number is usually not what you think.
If you live in Miami and commute to Broward every day, you're not a 7,500 person, no matter how it feels.
How much extra mileage costs per month
Going from 10,000 to 12,000 miles a year typically adds somewhere between $15 and $40 a month depending on the car. Dropping to 7,500 saves a similar amount. Over a 36-month lease that's real money, so it's worth getting right.
What the overage charge is if you go over
Overage is charged per mile at the end of the lease, usually 20 to 25 cents on mainstream brands and up to 30 on luxury. So 3,000 miles over at 25 cents is $750. Not catastrophic, but it stings, and it stings more because you pay it all at once when you're turning the car in.
The rule we use
Pick the tier just above your real number. If you honestly drive 9,000, take 10,000. The extra cost is small and you get a cushion for the year you take a road trip or your kid starts at UF.
And if you end up way under, that's fine too. Unused miles make the car worth more at lease end, which matters if you decide to buy it out.
Every deal on our deals page lists its mileage allowance. If you need a different one than what's shown, ask. It's usually a five-minute change.
Ready to put this into action? Fleet Automotive Group brokers new and demonstrator vehicles across 13 brands — delivered to your door.