A car lease allows you to drive a brand-new vehicle for a fixed period at an agreed monthly rate. Leasing doesn’t require a car loan approval or a hefty payment up front, but unlike typical financing plans, monthly lease payments go toward the use of the vehicle instead of the ownership of the vehicle. In other words, it’s a long-term rental, and once the fixed lease period is over (typically between 2 to 4 years), then the customer must either return the car to the leasing company or purchase it for market value.