As this is being written, this year, 2010, has become the best time to buy a new car in years.

In normal years, we would tell you that the best time to buy a car is when sales are slow at the end of the month, end or the year, or during vacation season. We would tell you that you might still have to negotiate your prices because dealers aren’t just going to give you a good deal because they like you.

BUT……..things are much different now. Sales have been slow for over a year and are still slow right now. As a result, we are now seeing some of the biggest and best car incentives on new cars that we’ve seen in years. Nearly every car manufacturer is now offering a combination of large factory-to-customer rebates, low-interest loan deals, 0% APR loans (even on long 72 month loans), special lease deals, free maintenance, and “secret” factory-to-dealer rebates that dealers usually give to customers.

Why has 2010 become such a good time to buy a car?

Lease vs Buy? What’s the Difference?

One of the best ways to decide between car leasing and buying with a loan is to directly compare the attributes of each, which we will show you in this article. We’ll tell you about how payments compare, about how fees are different, about advantages, and disadvantages.

Another way to help make a decision between leasing and buying is to compare the cost of each for a specific lease vs. buy situation. For this, you’ll need a special Lease vs. Buy Calculator.

Now, let’s take a look at how car leasing compares with buying with a loan.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of car leasing?

Car leasing has it’s advantages and disadvantages. Here is a summary:

Pros:
- Get new car every 2-4 years, with latest features and safety equipment
- Lower monthly payments
- Usually no down payment
- Car is always under warranty
- Lower sales tax (in most states)
- Avoids used car selling/trading hassles
- Automatic GAP insurance included (most leases)

How Does Car Leasing Work?

Car leasing is extremely popular because it offers a more affordable method of auto financing. It allows you to have lower monthly payments than with traditional auto loans. About one out of every five vehicles driven by automotive consumers in the United States are leased.

But car leasing is not for everyone. Is leasing good for a teen’s first car? What are the pros and cons of leasing?

Leasing is a little more complicated than buying with a loan, so you should take the time to learn about leasing, and be sure it’s right for you before making a decision.

What is a Lease?

Both leasing and buying a car with a loan are simply two different methods of financing. Where a purchase loan is a method of financing the ownership of a vehicle, leasing is financing the use of a vehicle for a specified number of months, similar to renting but not quite the same thing.

How to use a Lease vs Buy Calculator

When you use a Lease vs Buy Calculator such as the one at LeaseGuide.com, you should understand how it works and how to get the results you want.

Car leasing is a little different than buying a car with a loan. The language is different, the process is different, and the way that payments are calculated is different. Let’s take a look at how you would use an online lease vs buy calculator to better understand the differences.