FI showroom red and grey logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Q2 Lease Trends Report Shows More Drivers Opting for Longer Lease Terms

Brands with unfavorable lease policies continue to see lower brand loyalty.

August 10, 2021
Q2 Lease Trends Report Shows More Drivers Opting for Longer Lease Terms

Brands with unfavorable lease policies continue to see lower brand loyalty.

2 min to read


CINCINNATI, Ohio – Swapalease.com, a car lease marketplace, announced its second-quarter Auto Lease Trends Report, showing vehicle lease trends during the second quarter on brand-specific search traffic, lease mileage report, lease listing incentive data and the appetite for domestic versus foreign lease vehicles. 

Swapalease.com studies lease market trends and consumer insights each quarter. In order to gain these insights the company studies a variety of lease market data, and takes the pulse of consumer appetites for leasing by presenting surveys to more than 2,500 drivers across the U.S. The purpose of the report is to provide a deeper understanding to the industry on where U.S. auto lease activity is in the present market, and where it may be forecast to go in coming quarters. 

Ad Loading...

Among the key trends Swapalease.com identified in its second-quarter lease data: 

  • Tesla searches are up 64% from the first quarter, among the largest brands with this percentage growth. Tesla as a brand now represents 7% of total search traffic on the Swapalease.commarketplace, second highest behind BMW (18%). 

  • People are now seeking leases with longer-term contracts. Forty-three percent of drivers had 24-month lease contracts in the second quarter, down from 51% a year ago. However, 41% of drivers had three-year lease contracts a year ago compared with 47% today, representing an increase for longer-term leases.  

  • Nearly half of lease drivers (47%) say they would either switch over to a different brand in their next vehicle, or say they aren’t sure if they want to stay with the same brand when it comes time to shop next. 

  • Swapalease.com continues to see a higher success rate of transfer for brands with favorable lease policies, such as Toyota, BMW and GM family vehicles. The company continues to see a lower rate of transfer, as well as lower rate of brand loyalty, on vehicles with unfavorable lease policies, such as Honda, Acura, Nissan and Infiniti. 

“We continue to be in a period where identification of the right vehicle is paramount due to inventory challenges,” said Scot Hall, Executive Vice President of Swapalease.com. “A large percentage of these shoppers continue to seek dealer-alternate channels for their next vehicle, and companies with consumer-friendly lease policies are more successful in helping these shoppers complete their transaction on time.” 

For more information or to see the full report, click here.

More Auto Finance

Woman's hands holding an wallet empty of cash
Auto Financeby Hannah MitchellJuly 1, 2026

Automotive Consumers Sink Further in Debt

Most financing metrics hit records in the second quarter as more buyers locked themselves into long terms and high monthly payments.

Read More →
Three men smiling for headshots
Auto Financeby Lauren LawrenceJuly 1, 2026

Porsche Financial Services Shifts Structure

After 36 years with Porsche, the Financial Services Chief Financial Officer Konrad Riedl is retiring, and the department is realigning its management structure.

Read More →
$100 bill and magnifying glass on top of paper that says insurance policy terms and conditions.
F&Iby Lauren LawrenceJune 29, 2026

Tariffs Could Raise Insurance Premiums

As U.S. import tariffs affect repair costs, consumers might find it more affordable to replace a damaged vehicle, according to recent Insurify tariff analysis.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Red toy car sitting on top of coins.
Auto Financeby Lauren LawrenceJune 24, 2026

Smaller Loans, Longer Terms

The youngest generation of car buyers is more likely to finance less expensive vehicles, more than half of generation Z consumers borrowing less than $25,000.

Read More →
Photo of man holding a car key
Auto Financeby Hannah MitchellJune 17, 2026

New Cars a Tad More Affordable

May averages show that combined circumstances gave auto consumers slightly better buying power for the month, though average prices were up year-over-year.

Read More →
Photo of a white toy car next to piles of coins
Auto Financeby Hannah MitchellJune 8, 2026

First-Quarter Sees Long Auto Loan Growth

Experian data show more consumers are tapping the method, along with refinancings, to afford buying. Meanwhile, subprime borrowers are getting more access.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Assurant, Mastering Credit Friction, Sales Series, Expert Trainer Josh Krach
Auto FinanceMay 29, 2026

Mastering Credit Friction

In this video, Josh Krach explains how to turn credit friction into an advantage.

Read More →
Couple talking with auto salesman next to new car inside dealership
Auto Financeby Hannah MitchellMay 20, 2026

April Less Affordable

Based on prices, reduced incentives and slower household income growth, consumers found it more challenging to buy new last month, Cox Automotive reported.

Read More →
Photo of a loan contract on a desk
Auto Financeby Hannah MitchellMay 13, 2026

Auto Lenders, Consumers on a Tightrope

April borrowing data shows that more consumers are bending over backward to buy vehicles, though subprime lending cooled off for the month.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
black background with orange text saying Alec Hagey Toyota Financial Services President and CEO effective April 6 with picture of Alec Hagey
Auto Financeby Lauren LawrenceApril 6, 2026

Toyota Financial Services President Replaced

Scott Cooke has served in various roles with Toyota Financial Services for over 20 years, including president and CEO, which he retires from on June 30.

Read More →