Leasing a vehicle is typically a rent-to-own setup, where you make monthly payments with the option to purchase the car and the end of the contract term. You normally don't get a copy of the title, as that goes to the leasing company. Rarely, you may receive a title copy to register the vehicle with your state's department of motor vehicles. If you purchase the vehicle outright after the lease contract, you receive the official title at that point.
Lease contract terms and lengths vary, but arrangements that last from 36 to 39 months are fairly standard. Primary benefits of leasing are that you don't have to take on a loan and you can flexibly change cars every few years.
When you sign your lease contract, the leasing company or dealership remains the titled owner of the car. This scenario is similar to other rental agreements where you pay money for the right to use someone else's property temporarily.
It is fairly common for someone to like the vehicle she leases and buy it at the end of the contract period. Not all leasing companies allow purchase opportunities on leased vehicles, so check with a business before signing a contract if you are interested in an eventual purchase.
After you make the purchase and complete the paperwork, your leasing company usually files the title and registration materials with your state's department of motor vehicles. There are two common scenarios regarding what the agency does with the title:
You should receive a bill of sale from the leasing company at the time of purchase, regardless of whether you pay cash or finance the vehicle.
