How GM leases work: Chevrolet, GMC, Buick, and Cadillac lease rules

One lender for four brands

GM Financial leases Chevrolet, GMC, Buick, and Cadillac vehicles. Because the policies are the lender's rather than the brand's, the disposition fee, transfer rules, late-payment terms, and buyout path are the same whichever of the four brands is on the car.

Captive lenders by brand

Disposition fee and how it is waived

GM Financial publishes a disposition fee of up to $495 at turn-in. It states the fee is included in its leases only where state law allows it. The fee is waived if you buy or lease a new GM vehicle, and GM Financial's lease-end FAQ says that may also come with a partial excess-wear waiver. That wear waiver is not a published dollar schedule, so ask what applies to you before you count on it.

Disposition fees by brand

Lease loyalty programs by brand

Transferring a GM lease

GM Financial allows lease transfers through its lease-assumption program. The published conditions:

• Fee: $625 plus applicable taxes, paid by the assuming lessee.
• The vehicle must stay in the same state as the assuming lessee.
• Not allowed within the last six months of the lease.
• The assuming lessee must meet GM Financial credit guidelines, and the account must be current.
• No swaps between commercial and non-commercial use.

Both parties sign a new contract. GM Financial says processing typically takes 3 to 5 business days after it receives the documents and the fee, then the assuming lessee gets a welcome packet and the original lessee gets written confirmation.

Lease transfer policy by brand

Late payments: there is no grace period

GM Financial's FAQ says there is no grace period. Payments are required by the due date on the statement, and interest charges and late fees accrue each day past due according to the contract. The FAQ does not publish a late-fee dollar amount; your contract shows when late fees are assessed.

Late fees and grace periods by brand

Buying out a GM lease

GM Financial publishes a purchase option and offers lease-buyout loans through Mode by GM Financial. Buying the car avoids excess wear, mileage, and the disposition fee. GM Financial also says a dealer should not add a doc fee to facilitate your contractual payoff. Third-party payoffs are not stated as allowed, so the payoff path is the lessee or Mode.

Lease-end buyout policy by brand

Mileage and GAP on a GM lease

GM Financial does not publish a menu of annual mileage plans or an acquisition fee in the pages we track. In LeaseGuru's brand comparison, Chevrolet and GMC return overage is recorded at $0.25 a mile with prepaid miles at $0.20, and Cadillac is recorded at the same rates. Buick has no recorded rate. Your contract's rate governs.

GM Financial describes GAP as an optional ancillary product that is not required to obtain financing, and does not publish a standard built-in lease gap waiver. Check your lease agreement and any GAP addendum. If you bought GAP, claims go to the GAP provider, not to GM Financial.

Mileage overage fees by brand

GAP insurance and lease coverage

Current GM lease deals by model

The GM Financial rules above apply whichever of the four brands is on the car. Compare live listings for popular models:

• Chevy Colorado
• Chevy Silverado
• Chevy Blazer
• Chevy Tahoe
• Chevy Trailblazer
• Chevy Equinox
• Buick Envista
• Buick Encore GX
• Buick Envision
• GMC Sierra 1500
• GMC Yukon
• GMC Canyon
• Cadillac XT4
• Cadillac Lyriq
• Cadillac Optiq