To hand over your Kia lease, you’ll need to get a few things in order. Have an updated vehicle inspection, documents like the title and lease agreement, and vehicle keys on hand. Don’t forget: You’ll have more options to return a lease, lease another Kia, or buy out the lease if you start the process early.
The joy of leasing is its flexibility. Instead of buying a vehicle upfront, you can drive your dream car in its golden years, turn in the keys, and make your next move. The best lease agreement doesn’t lock you into a vehicle for long.
Still, we would never encourage careless lease-hopping around the Kia lineup.
Ending a Kia lease agreement takes careful planning, hoop-jumping, and a touch of forward-thinking. You don’t want to wait until the last day of your Kia lease to return the keys. Why? Because you’ll miss important deadlines and requirements.
That’s why Jerry, the car insurance comparison super app, has a complete guide to Kia lease returns. Let’s get rolling.
How a Kia lease return works
As with any lease, you have three basic options after ending your Kia agreement. They are:
- Return the vehicle and walk away.
- Return the vehicle, and start a new lease from the same dealer.
- Buy out the lease and own the vehicle.
We’ve already explored how to buy out an existing Kia lease. So, let’s take a closer look at the first two options.
If you want to return your leased Kia and walk away
Your first option is a basic lease return: You return the vehicle, and that’s it! Preparation for this option starts two to three months before your lease agreement ends.
- Two to three months out: Visit the Kia Finance website to download your 120-day lease end kit. This kit contains a complete to-do list, instructions for scheduling an appointment, and online wear and tear assessment tool.
- Two months out: Make any necessary repairs and complete the required maintenance. Call your local Kia dealer to schedule the turn-in appointment.
- One week out: Clean the inside (and out) of your car—removing garage tags or toll readers. Prepare for (and undergo) final lease return inspection.
- On the day of your Kia lease return appointment: Bring the vehicle, keys, owner’s manual, headrests, license plate, maintenance record, inspection report, and Odometer disclosure statement—found on Kia Finance website.
- After the return: Call the Kia Finance Center (855-537-8542) to confirm your lease agreement has ended.
The Kia Finance website can help identify your options when ending a lease agreement. However, if you choose not to lease another Kia vehicle, you’ll be responsible for the following:
- Wear-and-tear fees (if applicable)
- Any remaining lease payments (if applicable)
- Kia lease turn-in fee
These few additional payments might seem disappointing, but there is a bright side. Kia’s lease return balance estimator will give you an accurate assessment before ending the agreement. Once completed, you’re free from the responsibility associated with a Kia lease agreement.
If you’re itching to get behind the wheel, you can always start a new lease in the future!
If you want to lease a new Kia
Prefer to keep the Kia train rolling? If so, you’ll need to start the process about six months before your lease agreement ends. This gives you ample time to explore Kia models, compare trim levels, and choose the next Kia lease of your dreams.
The process is relatively similar to the one feature above. Start by identifying any excessive wear and tear using the self-assessment. Also, schedule necessary repairs, and call your lease-end advisor. Now comes the fun part!
Check out Kia’s website to explore the newest model. Whether you’re chasing a new plug-in hybrid or powerful daily driver, you’ve got plenty of options. To find the best deals, we recommend joining the KFA advantage club—which grants special rates and discounts for releasing drivers.
While KFA advantage discounts fluctuate based on location and dealer, the main advantages include:
- 24/7 customer support hotline
- Up to $400 disposition fee waiver
- 2-tier pricing upgrade
- Increased term length flexibility
- Bonus discounts for new KIA EV models
- Acquisition fee waiver (if eligible)
Once you’ve found undergone the necessary inspections and found the future Kia of your dreams, simply schedule a turn-in appointment at your local dealer. If done correctly, you’ll enter the lot in the old car and leave it in the new one!
If you want to return a Kia lease early
Preferably, you’d take the remaining lease time to explore your next move. But life doesn’t always happen how you want it to—trust us, we’re in the insurance business. Maybe your financial situation has shifted, you’re moving, or your heart is set on another ride.
Whatever the case, you can always terminate a Kia lease agreement early. This method allows you to return the vehicle before your agreement ends for an additional cost and with a few extra hoops to jump through.
About that additional cost—ending a Kia lease agreement early can get expensive fast. For starters, you have to cover the outstanding balance left on the agreement. Then, there are the termination fees.
Plus, don’t forget about the lease-end costs that come when returning any vehicle, like turn-in fees and inspection reports.
When opting for this method, contact Kia Finance to start negotiating early. Explain your situation honestly, and come to a clear understanding—this might help you get the best deal.
Ultimately, you’re going to pay extra to exit the agreement early. How much extra? That depends on your negotiation skills.
While unconventional, lease swaps are another way to avoid steep early termination fees. A lease swap allows the driver to transfer a lease to another lessee. Again, this will take some haggling with your Kia finance associate—explain your situation clearly.
If this option interests you, ensure the person you’re transferring the lease agreement to has an equal (or better than) credit score and income.
How to find the best Kia insurance
So you’ve bagged a new Kia lease agreement or walked away lease-free. Either way, we’d like to say congratulations and that it’s time to consider car insurance!
Ending a Kia lease agreement is a simple process, just like shopping for insurance with Jerry.
As a licensed insurance broker, Jerry compares rates from 50+ top providers in just 45 seconds. With Jerry, you can find the best Kia car insurance costs, get top-of-line customer support, and bypass the usual hassle of shopping for the protection your car needs.
The best part? Jerry users, on average, save more than $800 a year on car insurance.
FAQ
-
Can I return my Kia lease to any dealership?
-
Can you negotiate a Kia lease return?
-
Can you return a Kia lease early?
Max Werner is an insurance writer specializing in general automotive knowledge. His mission is to create comprehensive content that car owners can use to save time and money. Max has authored nearly 200 articles for Jerry, including deep dives into model specifics, vehicle comparisons, and commonly asked automotive questions. Max has experience as a social media manager and marketing coordinator.
Jessica Barrett is a senior insurance writer and editor with 10 years of experience in the automotive and travel industries. A specialist in car insurance, car loans, and car ownership, Jessica’s mission is to create comprehensive content that car owners can use to manage their costs and improve their lives. As a managing editor for a team of writers and insurance specialists, Jessica has edited over 2,000 articles for Jerry on topics ranging from local insurance shopping tips to refinancing car loans with bad credit. Before joining Jerry as a senior content editor in 2021, Jessica created visual content for clients such as Expedia, Vivid Seats, Budget Direct Car Insurance, Angie’s List, and HomeAdvisor. Her content was published in Business Insider, Forbes, Apartment Therapy, and the BBC.
