Lease Purchase Nightmares & Successes: Share Your Real-World Experiences

[Mike]

I want to collect real-world experiences from drivers who’ve done lease purchase.

Have you been burned by a bad lease purchase program? If you’re willing, share what happened so other drivers can spot the warning signs early.

Helpful details (share only what you’re comfortable with):

1. Carrier/Program name: (optional)
2. Your role: company → lease / lease from day one / other
3. What went wrong: (payments, forced dispatch, maintenance, escrow, miles, unexpected deductions, breakdowns, etc.)
4. Contract “gotchas”: (buyout terms, balloon payment, mileage penalties, walk-away fees, etc.)
5. The biggest red flag: you’d warn a rookie about
6. Outcome: walked away / terminated / paid off / still in it

Also fair to post positive experiences — if your lease purchase worked, tell us why it worked and what made it different.

Goal: build a “red flags” list that drivers can use before signing anything.

 

[Rigjockey]

I came close once to doing a lease purchase. I looked at what they were paying and what the truck payments were, and it didn't math out to me.

 

[mndriver]

I did a couple lease purchases with a couple drivers.

They ended up successfully paying off the trucks and trailers.

I sent them packing about the time my insurance went from $8700/ truck annually to $24,000.

They FA…

I FO.