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Car lease basics: What you should know before you sign
A lease stipulates that you’ll make payments on the car until the lease is over.
The better you understand how loans work and how lenders think, the better equipped you are to save on your loan.
— Pippin Wilbers
About the author
Pippin Wilbers is a Bankrate editor. He joined the personal loans team in 2024, though he's also contributed work on the auto loans, credit cards, student loans and small business loan verticals. Pippin is passionate about demystifying complex topics, such as car financing or finding the best personal loan, and helping borrowers stay up-to-date in a changing and challenging borrower environment.
Pippin stays on top of industry news sources, such as TransUnion and Experian. Working with reporters Hanneh Bareham and Denny Ceizyk, he analyzes industry data and trends and asks: "What does this mean for borrowers?"
Pippin lives in Denver. Before joining Bankrate, he brought vital news to his community as a small-town newspaper reporter. In his spare time, he enjoys foraging for mushrooms, reading, and dabbling in amateur entomology.
The better you understand how loans work and how lenders think, the better equipped you are to save on your loan.
— Pippin Wilbers
A lease stipulates that you’ll make payments on the car until the lease is over.
Answer some key questions before buying a car with your partner.
Answer some key questions before buying a car with your partner.
PenFed and Consumers Credit Union offer rates lower than average for their members.
Get in the best position for future financing by staying on top of your new loan.
Getting the best car trade-in deals takes preparation and persistence.
Getting the best car trade-in deals takes preparation and persistence.
A trade-in might reduce your sales tax, but it may not be the best deal available.