Leasing · Broker Black education

End of lease, four ways.

Broker Black's Concierge walks members through the last 90 days of a lease because the options are simple and the timing is not. When a lease ends you can return the car, buy it at the residual, extend for a short period, or use any equity toward the next one. Ninety days before the end date is when to decide: that is when Mercedes-Benz Financial Services waives the $595 disposition fee if you lease or buy another Mercedes-Benz, as published by its dealers in 2026.

By Broker Black · Published September 18, 2026 · Part of Leasing basics: how a car lease works

The four options.

Option	What you pay	When it fits
Return	Disposition fee (waived with a new Mercedes-Benz within 90 days), excess miles at $0.25 each, excess wear	The car is worth less than the residual, or you simply want the next car
Buy	The residual (purchase option price) plus tax, title, and any purchase fee	The car is worth more than the residual, or you love it and the miles are high
Extend	Monthly payments continue for the extension	The next car is on order or you need a few months
Trade the equity	Nothing; the difference between market value and residual reduces the next deal	The car is worth more than the residual and you want the next one

How to know if you have equity.

Get the payoff from the lender (the residual plus any remaining payments and fees). Get a value: Broker Black's trade-in tool gives a range from market comps by VIN, and partner dealers can send their own cash offers. If a dealer offer is above the payoff, that is equity you can apply to the next car or take as cash from that dealer. If it is below, return the car and let the lender absorb the difference.

The 90-day checklist.

Confirm the end date and the lender's inspection process.
Check miles against the allowance; if you are over, buying the car removes the overage entirely.
Fix anything that would be charged as excess wear if it costs less than the charge.
Price the next car on Broker Black three ways (finance, lease, cash) at your profile, and price the current car's equity through cash offers.
Ask the Concierge to line up the dealer's timing so the return and the delivery land on the same day.

Do not let a lease roll past its end date without a plan; month-to-month extensions are the lender's terms, not yours.

Quick answers.

Can I buy my leased Mercedes-Benz at the end?

Yes, at the purchase option price in your contract (the residual) plus tax and fees. Lenders increasingly require the buyout to go through their own brand's dealers; confirm with the dealer.

Is the disposition fee always charged?

Mercedes-Benz Financial Services waives it when you lease or buy another Mercedes-Benz within 90 days of return, as published by its dealers in 2026. Otherwise it is $595.

What counts as excess wear?

Damage beyond the lender's normal-wear standard: dents over a set size, tires below a tread depth, cracked glass, interior damage. The lender's inspection guide lists the thresholds.

Can I extend a Mercedes-Benz lease?

Many lenders allow a short extension on request; terms vary. Ask the dealer 60 to 90 days out.

Check your lease equity with a trade-in value Ask the Concierge