What Happens to My Leased Car After I Return it?

Are you one of the millions of buyers that have discovered the benefits of leasing? When you lease a new Toyota from Romeoville Toyota, you’re getting a brand new car at a fraction of the price you’d pay if you chose a traditional loan. Once you become a lease customer, you’re in a program that guarantees a new car in your driveway every time your lease matures. But have you ever wondered what happens to your Toyota lease return?

With the large influx of buyers opting for a lease, the market is flooded with low mileage, nearly new lease returns every year. After we take in these pristine vehicles and put our lease customers in their next new leased Toyota, we turn our attention to buyers seeking the highest possible quality used model. You might be happy to learn that in many cases, your lease return becomes their next dream vehicle.

For some buyers, a new vehicle purchase isn’t practical. Still, they worry about common quality issues associated with buying a used car. That’s where a lease return comes in. Lessees must adhere to stringent contractual requirements when they sign on the dotted line. The vehicle must be returned in excellent condition at the end of the lease period. As it turns out, that’s very good news for used buyers.

Certified Pre-Owned 101

When our dealership receives a low mileage trade or lease return, we immediately submit it for Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) consideration. What does CPO mean? It’s a certification program designed by Toyota that allows us to identify the highest quality used Toyota vehicles and sell them with extra factory warranty coverage. Toyota calls these vehicles TCUVs, or Toyota Certified Used Vehicles, and that designation comes with a seriously exclusive list of benefits.

To qualify for CPO status, these newer used Toyota vehicles must be no more than six model years old and have fewer than 85,000 miles on the odometer. They must possess a clean title, meaning no salvage title status (as verified by a CARFAX Vehicle History Report) and, most importantly, they have to pass a rigorous 160-Point Quality Assurance Inspection (174-Point for Hybrid Toyotas) performed by our factory-trained Toyota technicians.

Not only that, but all of our CPO Toyota vehicles are reconditioned by our technicians. Each and every vehicle is restored to nearly new condition both inside and out. The comprehensive inspection process ensures no stone is left unturned, and the end result is a cream-of-the-crop used vehicle bearing the CPO guarantee. For nervous used car buyers, it’s the perfect alternative to buying new.

Because the CPO program was created by the factory, the certification process is consistent and can only be performed by certified Toyota dealers like Romeoville Toyota. We follow the same inspection process on every prospective car, which ensures quality standards are met every single time. It doesn’t matter if you’re buying a Hybrid RAV4, a Sienna minivan, or a rugged full-size Tundra pickup: all Toyota CPO-designated vehicles have passed the same comprehensive inspection.

Comprehensive CPO Factory Warranty Coverage

Not only does your off-lease Toyota vehicle earn consideration for the CPO program, but once it passes, the buyer will receive extensive warranty coverage for added peace of mind. This further distinguishes CPO Toyotas from typical used inventory and gives wary buyers a more consistently reliable alternative than dipping their toes into the broader used marketplace.

All Toyota CPO cars, trucks, vans, and SUVs come with factory-backed warranty coverage, including a 12-month/12,000-mile Comprehensive Limited Warranty, a 7-year/100,000-mile Powertrain Warranty, and 7-year/100,000-mile 24-hour Roadside Assistance. Let’s break that down: you might wonder why Toyota is willing to offer such extensive coverage on a pre-owned vehicle. The answer lies in the CPO certification process itself.

First, the mandatory 160-point inspection (174-point for Hybrid Toyota models) includes a comprehensive bumper-to-bumper, inch-by-inch inspection of every component, from key powertrain equipment like the engine and transmission to convenience features like intermittent wipers and infotainment touchscreens. The inspection ensures all equipment is in working order and free from extensive wear-and-tear, making it easy for Toyota to back these vehicles up with factory warranty coverage.

Next, the vehicle comes with a complimentary CARFAX Vehicle History Report that tells our technicians whether the title is “clean.” A clean title means the car hasn’t been subject to excessive damage. The report details the vehicle’s accident history, number of owners, and a list of service records to confirm it received all scheduled maintenance. With these guarantees and more, it’s not surprising that Toyota can confidently offer factory warranty coverage.

Other CPO Perks and Benefits

Not only does your former Toyota lease qualify for CPO consideration, but once it receives the CPO badge, prospective buyers get a whole bunch of extra perks. It’s hard to argue Toyota’s reputation for building quality new vehicles, but what most people don’t realize is that quality guarantee carries over to used Toyota buyers. All warranties come with zero deductible costs, and major powertrain repairs include a Travel Protection feature that covers lodging when you’re 150 miles or further away from home.

As for the 24/7 Roadside Assistance, the list of coverage might surprise you. First, it lasts for seven years. It covers everything from flat tires to dead batteries and even helps when you’re locked out of your car. You’ll be reimbursed for any towing expenses associated with a breakdown, and live service is available 24 hours a day with no days off. One thing is for sure: you won’t get that from a private seller.

If you’re considering a CPO Hybrid Toyota, your guarantee includes an additional 8-year/100,000-mile Factory Hybrid Vehicle Battery Warranty and an even more extensive inspection process–an extra 14 points, to be exact. It’s an easy and stress-free way to start your alternative fuel vehicle ownership journey without committing to a brand new model.

A CPO Program You Can Trust

Toyota’s comprehensive Certified Pre-Owned program, officially called Toyota Certified Used Vehicles (TCUV), was launched back in 1996. Every year since, it’s served as a pipeline for off-lease vehicles and other low-mileage trade-ins, giving used buyers a more confident way to purchase a used Toyota. Toyota estimates that over 7 million TCUV have been sold to date.

In addition to all the perks that go along with buying a TCUV, buyers also have access to new vehicle financing rates in some cases. Trade-ins are also welcome to help offset the cost of buying a Toyota-certified vehicle. As always, Romeoville Toyota provides full support with all paperwork and associated registration processes, so buyers can relax and focus on the excitement of finding their dream Toyota.

Overall, buying a Certified Pre-Owned Toyota comes with so many advantages that even the most devoted lessees might choose to go that route. After all, with access to new car financing rates and a selection of high-quality Toyota cars, trucks, SUVs, and vans at a fraction of the cost of a new model, the idea certainly sounds enticing, not to mention practical!

As a Toyota lessee, you now understand what happens with your leased vehicle after you bring it back to our dealership when the lease term ends. It’s nice to know that another lucky driver has the opportunity to enjoy your leased vehicle. There’s extra pride knowing that your careful maintenance and responsible driving habits resulted in a quality lease return that meets Toyota’s stringent certification guidelines.