If you don’t want to buy the Nissan you leased, returning it is straightforward. Your next steps are to book a vehicle inspection, decide whether or not to pay for repairs, and then return the vehicle to an authorized dealership.

With a lease, you can have a lot of fun with a brand-new car in a short amount of time, all without the commitment of a traditional purchase. However, unlike car ownership, leasing requires you to return the vehicle after two to four years. And luckily, Nissan makes it easy to return a leased vehicle.

In this article, we'll explain your options for ending a lease with Nissan—and how to save hundreds on your

Nissan insurance costs

. We want to make things as easy as possible for you! Expect nothing less from

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How a Nissan lease return works

A lease can end in a few different ways, including:

Returning the car early

Returning the car at the end of your lease

Returning the car and leasing a new Nissan

Extending the lease

Purchasing the car

We’ve already covered

how to buy out a Nissan lease

, so today we’ll talk about the other four options.

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How to return a Nissan lease early

At one point, life might require you to lease a Nissan, but if your circumstances have changed, your lease might not seem like the best solution anymore. Maybe

you're moving

, you might have spotted a better car, or perhaps your financial situation has changed. It's not ideal, but you need to get rid of that lease.

It’s important to understand that signing a lease means legally committing yourself to a payment schedule. Ergo, leaving your agreement early and happily is a matter of satisfying your financial obligations to the leasing company, Nissan Motor Acceptance Corp (NMAC).

Here's how to end a Nissan lease early:

Request early termination. You can't request early termination until you've paid at least 12 months on your lease. It’ll cost you a bundle of fees—the exact amount varies on a case-by-case basis.

Lease (or buy) a new Nissan and return your current lease early. You may be able to save on those fees if you lease or buy another Nissan from your dealership. To encourage customer loyalty, NMAC will even waive up to $500 in excess wear-and-tear, plus the $395 disposition fee!

Transfer your lease to a new lessee

. If you find someone with a similar income and credit score to take over your lease, you can escape with only a few fees. Make sure to contact NMAC to begin the conversation.

Sell your lease vehicle.

To get out of your lease, you can ask a Nissan dealership if they're interested in buying your car. A rival car maker might do this if you negotiate to buy one of theirs instead. You can also sell it to a private third party. In either case, you'll have to pay the difference between the agreed-upon sale price and NMAC's buyout price, which is usually higher than the car’s market value.

If you have to return a lease early, make sure not to miss any payments. Instead, contact NMAC. You may be eligible for temporary payment relief without harming your credit score.

MORE:

Read this before leasing a car with bad credit

How to return a Nissan lease on time

Returning your Nissan vehicle at the end of your lease is the simplest and most straightforward option. Here’s the timeline:

Schedule a vehicle inspection two to three months before your lease ends. The inspection is free and mandatory. Contact Alliance Inspection Management Center (AIM) at 800-253-9026 or

visit their website

to schedule a

30-minute appointment

Make any necessary repairs two months before your lease ends. After your vehicle inspection, you'll receive

a report listing the wear and tear

found on the vehicle and any associated fees. It's up to you whether you want to make the repairs or take it back to the dealership as-is. Often, repairing the damage through a third-party garage is cheaper than what the dealership will charge. Just make sure you do it right.

Schedule a vehicle-return appointment at your nearest Nissan dealership at least a week before the end of your lease. Your vehicle can be returned to any Nissan dealership, not just the one where it was leased.

Bring your lease to the Nissan dealership on the day of your return-vehicle appointment. Check your car for trash and personal items before returning it. Bring any weather or cargo mats that came with the car, plus the keys, your owner's manual, the maintenance records, any receipts for repairs, and the vehicle inspection report.

At this point, you’ll need to pay for any remaining lease payments, excess mileage, and

excess wear-and-tear

. If you aren’t leasing a new Nissan, you’ll also be charged a lease turn-in fee. At the end of the transaction, you’ll receive a receipt as proof that you returned the vehicle.

Once you've returned your lease, let NMAC know. Notifying the company that you've returned the car will stop you from receiving any further reminders. Congratulations: you’re free and clear!

MORE:

How to calculate a car lease payment

How to lease a new Nissan when your old one expires

NMAC wants you to lease a new Nissan at the end of your agreement, so they make it easy for you. A vehicle inspection, repairs, and a vehicle-return appointment are still required. However, if you’re trading in your leased Nissan for a new one, you’ll avoid the disposition fee and up to $500 of excess wear-and-tear! In addition, there are tons of cash bonuses and financial incentives waiting for Nissan leasees or potential buyers; just contact NMAC for details.

How to extend your lease

If you aren't quite ready to let go of your current Nissan or if you need it for just a little longer, you might want to extend your lease. In reality, you won’t extend your lease so much as negotiate a new one with NMAC. Get in touch by

visiting their website

or calling 1-800-456-6622.

MORE:

Is it better to lease or buy a car?

How to find the best insurance for a Nissan

NMAC tries to make the process as easy as possible, but returning a Nissan lease still requires a couple of appointments and more than a few fees. Finding a new

car insurance

policy with

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FAQs

Can I return my lease vehicle to any Nissan dealership?

Yes. If the business you visit is an authorized Nissan dealership, you can return your lease vehicle there, even if you didn't lease it there originally.

Is there a fee for transferring a Nissan lease to someone else?

Yes. You'll have to pay a$250 lease transfer fee if NMAC accepts your application to transfer your lease (usually after they check the potential lessee's credit score and finances).

Can you return a Nissan lease early?

Yes, but the more payments remaining in your lease, the higher the fees will be. Before contacting NMAC at 1-800-456-6622, please review our section above.

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