Mileage overage fees by brand
What each major manufacturer charges per excess mile at lease return—and how prepaid mileage rates compare.
By LeaseGuru.aiUpdated 8 min read
Excess mileage fees are printed in your lease contract—but shoppers often only see a generic example until return day. Each captive lender sets its own per-mile penalty, and luxury brands typically charge more than mainstream programs.
This reference lists standard return overage and prepaid mileage rates for major U.S. captives. Your signed agreement controls: program year, state, and dealer paperwork can differ from published tables.
Use these numbers to estimate return charges, compare brands before you lease, and pre-fill our mileage overage calculator with your manufacturer’s typical rate.
TLDR Quick Guide
- Return overage commonly runs $0.15–$0.30 per mile; luxury captives often sit at the high end.
- Honda and Acura (HFS): $0.20/mi return, $0.15/mi prepaid—same captive, same schedule.
- Lexus (Toyota Financial Services): $0.15/mi return, $0.10/mi prepaid—one of the lowest luxury rates.
- Pre-purchased or mid-lease miles usually cost less than return overage when the captive offers them.
- Tesla sets its own direct lease schedule ; whether a lease-end buyout is available depends on your contract, so ask Tesla for the payoff rules on your VIN.
- Confirm the exact rate on your contract before signing; use our calculator to project total overage cost.
How to use this reference
Captive finance companies publish mileage penalties in lease program guides and standard contract language. The tables below reflect typical U.S. retail lease rates as of mid-2026. If your worksheet or contract shows a different number, the contract wins.
- Return overage — charged per mile above your total allowance at lease end.
- Prepaid miles — optional extra miles bought at signing or mid-lease, often at a lower per-mile rate.
- Shared captives — Honda/Acura, Toyota/Lexus, Nissan/Infiniti, and others use the same lender and usually the same mileage schedule.
Mainstream brand rates
Mainstream captives typically charge $0.15–$0.25 per excess mile at return. Stellantis brands (Jeep, Ram, Dodge) are often higher.
| Brand | Captive lender | Return overage | Prepaid miles | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honda | Honda Financial Services | $0.20/mi | $0.15/mi | — |
| Toyota | Toyota Financial Services | $0.15/mi | $0.10/mi | — |
| Nissan | Nissan Motor Acceptance | $0.25/mi | $0.20/mi | — |
| Hyundai | Hyundai Capital America | $0.20/mi | $0.15/mi | — |
| Kia | Hyundai Capital America | $0.20/mi | $0.15/mi | Same captive as Hyundai |
| Subaru | Subaru Motors Finance | $0.15/mi | $0.10/mi | — |
| Mazda | Mazda Financial Services | $0.20/mi | $0.15/mi | — |
| Volkswagen | Volkswagen Credit | $0.20/mi | $0.15/mi | — |
| Ford | Ford Motor Credit | $0.20/mi | $0.15/mi | — |
| Chevrolet / GMC | GM Financial | $0.25/mi | $0.20/mi | — |
| Jeep / Ram / Dodge | Chrysler Capital (Stellantis) | $0.30/mi | $0.25/mi | — |
Luxury and premium brand rates
Luxury captives often charge $0.25–$0.30 per mile at return. BMW and Mercedes-Benz Financial are among the higher schedules; Lexus shares Toyota’s lower TFS rates.
| Brand | Captive lender | Return overage | Prepaid miles | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acura | Honda Financial Services | $0.20/mi | $0.15/mi | Same captive as Honda |
| Lexus | Toyota Financial Services | $0.15/mi | $0.10/mi | Same captive as Toyota |
| Infiniti | Nissan Motor Acceptance | $0.25/mi | $0.20/mi | Same captive as Nissan |
| BMW | BMW Financial Services | $0.30/mi | $0.25/mi | — |
| Mercedes-Benz | Mercedes-Benz Financial Services | $0.25/mi | $0.20/mi | — |
| Audi | Audi Financial Services | $0.25/mi | $0.20/mi | — |
| Volvo | Volvo Car Financial Services | $0.25/mi | $0.20/mi | — |
| Cadillac | GM Financial | $0.25/mi | $0.20/mi | Same captive as Chevrolet / GMC |
| Lincoln | Ford Motor Credit | $0.20/mi | $0.15/mi | Same captive as Ford |
| Genesis | Hyundai Capital America | $0.20/mi | $0.15/mi | Same captive as Hyundai / Kia |
What Honda, Acura, Lexus, and Tesla charge per mile over
These are the brands shoppers ask about most. Each example assumes you return the car 3,000 miles over your total allowance, so the costs line up side by side.
How much does Honda charge per mile over a lease?
Honda leases run through Honda Financial Services (HFS), which uses one mileage schedule across its retail leases. The charge is billed after turn-in, once the final odometer reading is recorded.
- Return overage: $0.20/mi through Honda Financial Services.
- 3,000 miles over at return: $600.
- Same miles bought upfront at $0.15/mi: $450, saving $150.
- On a Honda contract, the rate sits in the excess mileage clause next to your annual allowance.
How much does Acura charge for excess mileage?
Acura is financed by the same captive as Honda, so the per-mile charge matches Honda's. Luxury pricing does not mean a luxury overage rate here.
- Return overage: $0.20/mi through Honda Financial Services.
- 3,000 miles over at return: $600.
- Same miles bought upfront at $0.15/mi: $450, saving $150.
- Acura worksheets list it in the same mileage section as Honda paperwork, because HFS prints both.
How much does Lexus charge for lease mileage overage?
Lexus leases are serviced by Toyota Financial Services under the Lexus Financial Services name, so Lexus inherits Toyota's lower schedule. That makes it one of the cheapest luxury brands to go over on.
- Return overage: $0.15/mi through Toyota Financial Services.
- 3,000 miles over at return: $450.
- Same miles bought upfront at $0.10/mi: $300, saving $150.
- Look for the excess mileage charge in the mileage allowance box on the Lexus lease agreement.
What is Tesla's lease mileage overage cost?
Tesla leases directly through Tesla Finance, with no dealer in between. The advertised Model 3 and Model Y leases on tesla.com state the overage charge in their offer footnotes.
- Return overage: $0.25/mi through Tesla Finance (direct).
- 3,000 miles over at return: $750.
- No published prepaid-mile rate. Pick a higher mileage tier when you order instead.
- If you are over, ask Tesla whether your contract includes a purchase option: buying the car would avoid the mileage charge entirely.
Tesla and direct-only leases
Tesla leases through Tesla Finance, not a third-party captive. Excess mileage is billed per Tesla’s lease agreement—typically around $0.25 per mile at return. Tesla reinstated a lease-end purchase option for all models in November 2024 (Iowa and Louisiana excepted), so buyout-vs-overage math now works the same way it does with traditional captives—get your payoff quote before deciding.
- Mileage tiers are selected at order—confirm allowance before delivery.
- Overage is assessed at return based on odometer reading.
- A lease-end buyout depends on your contract—ask Tesla for a payoff quote before planning around overage costs alone.
| Brand | Captive lender | Return overage | Prepaid miles | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tesla | Tesla Finance (direct) | $0.25/mi | — | Buyout allowed at lease end since Nov 2024 (not in IA or LA); rates set in Tesla lease agreement |
Estimate your overage cost
Select your brand in our mileage overage calculator to pre-fill the typical return rate, then enter your allowance, term, and expected miles. Adjust the per-mile field if your contract differs.
Avoid surprise mileage bills
Pick the right mileage tier at signing, track odometer quarterly, and ask about mid-lease mileage adjustments before you are deep into the term. Return overage is separate from excess wear charges.
Shopping a new lease?
Overage charges are set by the mileage allowance you agree to up front, so the cheapest listing is not always the cheapest lease. Compare current deals, then check the allowance on any you like before signing.
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- Term:
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Key Takeaways
- Each captive sets its own per-mile penalty—Honda/Acura HFS is commonly $0.20/mi at return.
- Prepaid miles often cost less than return overage when the lessor sells them upfront or mid-lease.
- Luxury brands (BMW, Mercedes, Stellantis) tend toward $0.25–$0.30/mi; Toyota/Lexus TFS is often lower.
- Your signed contract is the source of truth—use this table to estimate, not to audit a bill.
- Project total overage with our calculator using a brand preset or your contract rate.
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FAQs
Honda Financial Services typically charges $0.20 per excess mile at lease return on standard retail leases. Pre-purchased additional miles are often $0.15 per mile when offered. Confirm the rate on your contract before signing.
Acura leases through Honda Financial Services, so excess mileage is usually the same as Honda: $0.20 per mile at return and $0.15 per mile for prepaid additional miles when available. Your worksheet may list the rate in the mileage section.
Lexus leases through Toyota Financial Services, which typically charges $0.15 per excess mile at return and about $0.10 per mile for miles bought upfront. That is lower than most luxury brands. Going 3,000 miles over costs about $450 at return.
Tesla's advertised Model 3 and Model Y leases list $0.25 per mile over the allowance, so 3,000 miles over is about $750. Tesla does not publish a prepaid-mile rate, so choose a higher mileage tier when you order. If your contract includes a purchase option, buying the car at lease end avoids the charge.
Often yes. Many captives sell prepaid or mid-lease miles at a lower per-mile rate than return overage—for example, $0.15 prepaid vs $0.20 at return on Honda/Acura programs. Unused prepaid miles generally do not refund, so only buy what you expect to use.
Usually. BMW Financial Services is commonly $0.30 per mile at return; Mercedes-Benz and Audi are often $0.25. Lexus shares Toyota Financial Services rates, which are typically lower than most luxury captives.
Look for the mileage allowance section or an 'excess mileage' or 'additional mileage' clause. It states miles per year, total allowance, and the per-mile charge for miles over that total. The same figure should appear on your lease worksheet before signing.
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