To hand over your Kia lease, you’ll need to get a few things in order. Have an updated vehicle inspection, documents like the title and lease agreement, and vehicle keys on hand. Don’t forget: You’ll have more options to return a lease, lease another Kia, or buy out the lease if you start the process early.

The joy of leasing is its flexibility. Instead of buying a vehicle upfront, you can drive your dream car in its golden years, turn in the keys, and make your next move. The best lease agreement doesn't lock you into a vehicle for long.

Still, we would never encourage careless lease-hopping around the Kia lineup.

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Ending a Kia lease agreement takes careful planning, hoop-jumping, and a touch of forward-thinking. You don’t want to wait until the last day of your Kia lease to return the keys. Why? Because you’ll miss important deadlines and requirements.

That’s why

Jerry

, the

car insurance

comparison super app, has a complete guide to Kia lease returns. Let’s get rolling.

How a Kia lease return works

As with any lease, you have three basic options after ending your Kia agreement. They are:

Return the vehicle and walk away.

Return the vehicle, and start a new lease from the same dealer.

Buy out the lease and own the vehicle.

We’ve already explored how to

buy out an existing Kia lease

. So, let’s take a closer look at the first two options.

If you want to return your leased Kia and walk away

Your first option is a basic lease return: You return the vehicle, and that’s it! Preparation for this option starts two to three months before your lease agreement ends.

Two to three months out: Visit the

Kia Finance website

to download your 120-day lease end kit. This kit contains a complete to-do list, instructions for scheduling an appointment, and online wear and tear assessment tool.

Two months out: Make any necessary repairs and complete the required maintenance. Call your local Kia dealer to schedule the turn-in appointment.

One week out: Clean the inside (and out) of your car—removing garage tags or toll readers. Prepare for (and undergo) final lease return inspection.

On the day of your Kia lease return appointment: Bring the vehicle, keys, owner's manual, headrests, license plate, maintenance record, inspection report, and Odometer disclosure statement—found on

Kia Finance website

After the return: Call the Kia Finance Center (855-537-8542) to confirm your lease agreement has ended.

The

Kia Finance website

can help identify your options when ending a lease agreement. However, if you choose not to lease another Kia vehicle, you’ll be responsible for the following:

Wear-and-tear fees (if applicable)

Any remaining lease payments (if applicable)

Kia lease turn-in fee

These few additional payments might seem disappointing, but there is a bright side. Kia’s

lease return balance estimator

will give you an accurate assessment before ending the agreement. Once completed, you’re free from the responsibility associated with a Kia lease agreement.

If you’re itching to get behind the wheel, you can always start a new lease in the future!

MORE:How to calculate a car lease payment

If you want to lease a new Kia

Prefer to keep the Kia train rolling? If so, you’ll need to start the process about six months before your lease agreement ends. This gives you ample time to explore Kia models, compare trim levels, and choose the next Kia lease of your dreams.

The process is relatively similar to the one feature above. Start by identifying any excessive wear and tear using the self-assessment. Also, schedule necessary repairs, and call your lease-end advisor. Now comes the fun part!

Check out

Kia’s website

to explore the newest model. Whether you’re chasing a new plug-in hybrid or powerful daily driver, you’ve got plenty of options. To find the best deals, we recommend joining the KFA

advantage

club—which grants special rates and discounts for releasing drivers.

While KFA advantage discounts fluctuate based on location and dealer, the main advantages include:

24/7 customer support hotline

Up to $400 disposition fee waiver

2-tier pricing upgrade

Increased term length flexibility

Bonus discounts for new KIA EV models

Acquisition fee waiver (if eligible)

Once you’ve found undergone the necessary inspections and found the future Kia of your dreams, simply schedule a turn-in appointment at your local dealer. If done correctly, you’ll enter the lot in the old car and leave it in the new one!

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4.7/5 app rating | Trusted by 5M+ drivers

If you want to return a Kia lease early

Preferably, you’d take the remaining lease time to explore your next move. But life doesn’t always happen how you want it to—trust us, we’re in the insurance business. Maybe your financial situation has shifted, you’re moving, or your heart is set on another ride.

Whatever the case, you can always terminate a Kia lease agreement early. This method allows you to return the vehicle before your agreement ends for an additional cost and with a few extra hoops to jump through.

About that additional cost—ending a Kia lease agreement early can get expensive fast. For starters, you have to cover the outstanding balance left on the agreement. Then, there are the termination fees.

Plus, don’t forget about the lease-end costs that come when returning any vehicle, like turn-in fees and inspection reports.

When opting for this method, contact

Kia Finance

to start negotiating early. Explain your situation honestly, and come to a clear understanding—this might help you get the best deal.

Ultimately, you’re going to pay extra to exit the agreement early. How much extra? That depends on your negotiation skills.

While unconventional, lease swaps are another way to avoid steep early termination fees. A lease swap allows the driver to transfer a lease to another lessee. Again, this will take some haggling with your Kia finance associate—explain your situation clearly.

If this option interests you, ensure the person you’re transferring the lease agreement to has an equal (or better than) credit score and income.

MORE:Is it better to lease or buy a car?

How to find the best Kia insurance

So you’ve bagged a new Kia lease agreement or walked away lease-free. Either way, we’d like to say congratulations and that it’s time to consider

car insurance

Ending a Kia lease agreement is a simple process, just like shopping for insurance with

Jerry

As a licensed insurance broker, Jerry compares rates from 50+ top providers in just 45 seconds. With Jerry, you can find the best Kia car insurance costs, get top-of-line customer support, and bypass the usual hassle of shopping for the protection your car needs.

The best part? Jerry users, on average, save more than $800 a year on car insurance.

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FAQ

Can I return my Kia lease to any dealership?

Yes. As long as you’ve leased the vehicle directly from Kia, you can return your ride at any authorized dealership. This does not include non-Kia dealers and works the smoothest when your lease agreement is about to end (not early termination).

Can you negotiate a Kia lease return?

Absolutely. Not only can you negotiate a Kia lease return, but you’re also encouraged to do so! Especially if you’re attempting to terminate a lease agreement early or transfer the lease, you should negotiate with your Kia finance officer (855-537-8542) for the deal.

Can you return a Kia lease early?

Of course, though you’ll often pay extra. Early termination comes with steep lease-end fees, and you’ll still have to pay outstanding balances on your lease agreement. You’re never locked into a lease agreement, but, financially speaking, early returns take a bit of negotiating.

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