Tesla Now Allows Lease Buyouts. Here's Everything You Need to Know.

Sarah Williams

Published 5/7/25

Estimated Read Time: 6 minutes

TL;DR: Tesla allows lease buyouts for drivers of the Cybertruck, Model S, Model 3, Model X, and Model Y at the end of their lease term. Note that Iowa and Louisiana are not eligible for Tesla lease buyouts; but if you live in any other state, you're good to go.

Hi there, Tesla lessee. Curious about a lease buyout? Lucky for you, Tesla now allows lease buyouts, so you can finally end your lease and keep your Tesla.

Tesla Buyout Stats by Model

Lease End makes the process easy and as smooth as your ride. We've connected drivers with our financing partners to buy out the Cybertruck, Model S, Model X, Model 3, and Model Y.

Financing terms can vary greatly from driver to driver and depend on credit score, income, vehicle value, and other factors. For the Tesla buyouts we've completed, the following shows the average book value and monthly lease buyout loan payment that drivers land for each model:

Vehicle Model	Average Book Value	Average Monthly Payment
Model 3	$35,480.00	$564.96
Model Y	$37,375.00	$808.53
Model S	$63,920.00	$927.46
Model X	$62,445.55	$1,129.48
Cybertruck	$95,419.00	$1,289.69

As we facilitate more and more Tesla lease buyouts, we'll continue to update this data monthly. And if you're ready to buy out your leased Tesla now?

Why buy your leased car with Lease End?

Lease buyouts can be a great choice for lessees. Accessing your equity, qualifying for lower monthly payments, and scoring a good deal on a reliable used vehicle? It’s a no-brainer!

Save Money. Avoid disposition and wear-and-tear fees from the dealership.
Drive Freely. Drive as much as you want without worrying about mileage overage fees.
No Surprises. You know your car’s history and condition, making it a safer choice than buying used.
Access Your Equity. If the market value of your car is higher than the residual value, you have positive equity. So, keep your car forever, or sell it when you choose, but definitely get your equity out of it.
Stay Home. Skip the dealership hassle and DMV trips. We handle it all for you.
Get the Best Financing. With partners like Ally Bank, TD Bank, and Capital One, we'll find the right auto loan for you.

The Financials: Expect the Best Buyout Loan Rates

Again, every driver’s monthly payment for a buyout will vary based on vehicle, residual value, credit score, and other factors, the average monthly payment for a lease buyout (considering all vehicles) through Lease End is $512.45—for context, the average new monthly loan payment in Q1 2024 for borrowers with the best credit was $723 according to Experian.

Your credit score plays a significant role in the interest rate you'll receive. If your credit has improved since you leased the car, you might qualify for a better rate than you did before.

However, a low credit score won't necessarily preclude you from buying out your vehicle. Our banking partners service the gamut of credit profiles.

The Lease End Process: 4 Easy Steps

Step 1: Tell us about your car.

We’ll ask some basic questions about you & your lease to prepare for your purchase.

Step 2: View your loan & coverage options.

Review your unique financing and customizable vehicle coverage options.

Step 3: Sign your buyout documents.

We’ll prepare the documents you need, and you’ll eSign securely on your Lease End account.

Step 4: Relax—we'll take it from there.

We’ll arrange titling, registration, and new plates for you so you can skip the DMV trip.

The Alternative: Dealing with Your Dealer

Sure, you can buy out your car at the dealership or through your manufacturer. Just be prepared to deal with additional fees, hassle, time, and energy.

The Lease End Difference: Our team is made up of real people in Utah and Idaho. We've worked with every state DMV and every manufacturer we can. We care about our customers, so we've done the dirty work for you. Un-lease your car from the comfort of your home with the help of lease-end advisors who really care.

(See what others have to say about Lease End, here 👀.)

Make Your Move

Picture your future self: you've successfully bought your Tesla and are now the proud owner of a vehicle you know and love. You’re enjoying the freedom and flexibility that comes with owning your car—at an affordable monthly payment.

Lease End is here to support you through every step of the process, ensuring that your transition from lessee to owner is as smooth and stress-free as possible.

Our Take on Tesla's Previous No-Lease-Buyout Policy

Person looking discouraged next to EV charging station

In 2022, when leased vehicle equity was drastically outpacing vehicle market value, some leasing companies and dealerships started to limit lease buyouts. Most either gave up or soon lifted the restrictions. But Tesla waited two additional years to do so.

Why?

Table of Contents:

What is a lease buyout?
Why does Tesla restrict buyouts?
What are my rights as a lessee?
How do I buy out?

What is a lease buyout?

Top

Before we discuss Tesla’s motivations, let’s start with the basics.

Throughout a vehicle lease, the leasing company holds on to the car’s title, meaning they’re the legal owner. A lease buyout allows the lessee to purchase the vehicle from the leasing company and keep the car.

If this purchase is financed with a lease buyout loan, the ex-lessee will just keep driving and making monthly payments on the vehicle. No more mileage restrictions, no more wear-and-tear fees, and no lease-end inspection.

Why did Tesla restrict buyouts?

Top

In 2022, Tesla announced that drivers would no longer be able to purchase any leased vehicle delivered after April 15th of that year. And by “announced,” we mean they subtly changed the language on their lease-end-options page—largely leaving any affected lessees to discover and navigate the policy change themselves.

What’s so lucrative about leased cars?

Dealerships love returned leased cars. They’re three-year-old vehicles with a closely tracked maintenance history, driven by people terrified of mileage-overage fees or damage charges.

A used car in good condition may as well be made of gold these days. When dealerships get a car back at the end of a lease term, they can sell that car at a significant profit.

That’s all reason enough for dealerships to want your vehicle back. With Tesla’s high demand and specialized parts? They probably felt they had even more incentive than other leasing companies to restrict buyouts.

Imagine: Tesla, with Buyouts

Customers can lease a vehicle for a few years with a lower monthly payment than they’d likely pay to finance. The driver has already put a lot of equity, money, and time into the car and doesn’t need to switch cars entirely if they decide that they’re ready to purchase an electric vehicle (EV) at lease-end.

If the customer likes the vehicle, the car is in good shape, and the vehicle has retained a competitive market value (which is common for Teslas), buying out the car is a great deal. For the driver.

This also means that Tesla can't re-sell the vehicle or mark it up. With their used vehicles afloat in the market or up for re-sale by consumers, Tesla has less control over “their” inventory and market prices. If someone can get a good deal on a bought-out Tesla, why go back to the Tesla dealership to get into another lease or buy a new car?

The Reality: Tesla, without Buyouts

Tesla retained control of their inventory and pricing by restricting buyouts for so long. Customers who might have leased for the lower monthly payments, hoping to buy out and maintain lower monthly costs were forced to either keep leasing endlessly or make a different vehicle purchase.

Lessees were unable to build equity in their leased vehicles, too—turning Tesla’s leasing program into something like a more complicated, more expensive car rental service.

What are my rights as a lessee?

Top

As long as your Lease Agreement allows for it, you can buy out your leased car. You should also be able to buy it out based on a locked-in residual value.

The equity you’ve been building in the car? It belongs to you, and you can access that with a buyout. And once you purchase the car, it’s all yours. No mileage restrictions, maintenance restrictions, or wear-and-tear restrictions.

How do I buy out?

Top

In the past, you could buy out your EV as long as it wasn't a Tesla. But now the opportunity is there for Teslas as well, if you want to get out of the leasing cycle and just keep the car you already love.

These are some of the benefits of a buyout with Lease End.

Owning a vehicle (and the right to re-sell, if you want)
Continued coverage with Ally
Skipping the dealership hassle (we’ll talk to them for you)
No mileage limit
No cosmetic restrictions (beyond local laws or restrictions)
No maintenance restrictions
No wear-and-tear inspection
No DMV trip
No shopping around for auto loans
No down payment
No loan payment for 45 days

Tesla Lease Buyout Process (And Why Lease End Makes It Easier)

If you’re ready to buy out your Tesla lease (Model Y, Model 3, or even that sweet Cybertruck), here’s what the process usually looks like:

Step	What Happens
Get Your Lease Payoff Amount	Request this from Tesla. It includes residual value, fees, and taxes.
Secure Financing	Shop around or use Lease End’s financing partners for competitive rates.
Complete Buyout Paperwork	Includes loan docs, purchase agreement, and payoff forms.
Title & Registration	Once the purchase is complete, transfer the title and register the car in your name.
Celebrate	You officially own your Tesla. No more mileage limits. No more dealer drama.

Pro Tip:
Tesla’s lease payoff quotes are usually valid for a short window (often 10-15 days). Timing is everything, and Lease End can help speed up the financing so you don’t miss the window.

Tesla Lease Buyout Financing: What to Expect

Many Tesla lessees wonder if financing a buyout will mean huge monthly payments. Good news: it doesn’t have to.

Rates: Lease End customers often qualify for rates better than new car loan averages—especially if your credit score has improved since you started your lease.
Equity: Teslas tend to retain their value better than most vehicles, which means you might have equity in your leased vehicle. That could lead to lower financing needs (and payments).
No Down Payment: In many cases, Lease End’s financing partners don’t require a hefty down payment.

Why this matters:
Buying out your Tesla could actually lower your monthly payment compared to getting into a new lease or financing a brand-new Tesla. And with used EV prices staying high, owning a car you already know is a smart financial move.

Does GAP Insurance Apply to Tesla Lease Buyouts?

Quick answer: Yes, and it’s worth having.

If you finance your Tesla lease buyout and your Model 3 or Model Y gets totaled or stolen before you pay off the loan, you could owe more than the car’s insurance payout. That’s where GAP insurance saves the day.

What GAP covers:
✔ The difference between your car’s depreciated value and your remaining loan balance.

What it doesn’t cover:
✘ Late fees, lease termination fees, or personal property in the car.

Pro Tip: Lease End can bundle GAP coverage into your financing plan so you stay protected without extra hassle.

Final Thoughts: Tesla Lease Buyouts Just Make Sense

If you love your Tesla, hate mileage limits, and don’t want to get upsold at the dealership? A lease buyout could be your perfect move.

And doing it through Lease End? Even better.
We help with financing, paperwork, titling, and registration—so you never have to leave your couch or battle the DMV.

Ready to make your Tesla officially yours?

Speak with a lease-end expert at (888) 307-5197, or get started below.

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About the author
Sarah Williams

Sarah loves breaking down complex topics and making them accessible to everyday readers. With four years of experience writing in the fintech and auto industries, she’s helped shape Lease End’s voice and given consumers the confidence they need to tackle leasing topics.

Lease End's mission is to empower auto lease owners with the technology to easily exit their lease. If you'd like to learn more about the lease-end options available to you, please don't hesitate to contact us. Our expert advisors are always prepared to answer your questions and are committed to finding the right plan for your individual needs.

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