A marketer of vehicle un-lease transactions announced the results of a survey this week that reveals why people break consumer car leases. The 2004 Un-Lease Intent Survey, conducted by Un-Lease Inc., shows that an increasing proportion of consumers are now exiting their leases early for “non-financial” reasons. More than half of survey respondents were interested in breaking their leases for these reasons, a marked shift from previous years. Of the total respondents, 32.8% cited their interest in another car as their primary reason for breaking their current lease. Another 21.3% cited household/family change, while only 19.7% opted for the reason that their payments were too high. Dev Bhatia, the founder and CEO of Un-Lease, believes that because leases are now easier to break, consumers will choose financial flexibility when given the choice. The change in interest rates and the relaxing of some financing company restrictions have spurred the growth of un-lease transactions, the company said in a statement. Perhaps most revealing was the fact that of those interested in changing their rides rather than reducing their payments, more than half were interested in models with higher average monthly payments.
Survey Reveals Why People Break Leases
Of those interested in changing their rides rather than reducing their payments, more than half were interested in models with higher average monthly payments.
More Small Fleet

Boosting Last-Mile Fleet Uptime, Safety, and Value with AI Vehicle Inspections
AI-powered inspections are transforming last-mile fleets by replacing manual checks with highly accurate automated scans that detect defects in seconds. By giving fleet operations visibility into the daily condition of their vehicles, you can identify trends over the vehicle’s lifecycle that enable improved procurement decisions, route management, driver training and accountability.
Read More →How One Fleet Cut Motor Pool Costs by $45K With Smarter Key Control and Automation
Still managing your motor pool with spreadsheets and manual approvals? Loyola University replaced outdated processes with automated fleet management, eliminating overtime and saving up to $50,000 annually. See how they did it.
Read More →Artificial Intelligence in Field Service: North America
48% of field service leaders are investing in AI to manage customer communication and self-service. Get the latest on how fleets are using AI and thinking about the future.
Read More →
Five Ways Seat Belts Help Prevent Injuries
There are five ways seat belts protect occupants from injuries, according to the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security.
Read More →
It’s here: The 2026 Fleet Technology Trends Report
What does AI mean for fleets? Get the answer — and learn other top tech trends.
Read More →
Small Fleets, Big Impact: How Independent Drivers Power Wreaths Across America
Check out how small fleets and independent drivers power Wreaths Across America each December and why their impact matters more than ever.
Read More →
VMS Survey Finds 65% of Small Fleet Managers Run Operations Alone
A new VMS survey shows small fleet managers are stretched thin, with most handling operations solo and eager to adopt digital tools for relief.
Read More →
Tips for Driving Safely on Halloween Night
This video features a reminder from the Connecticut Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Connecticut Police Chiefs Association, urging drivers to prioritize safety this Halloween.
Read More →
AI, Access, and Uptime: VMS’s Next Chapter with David Prusinski
VMS’s new Co-CEO, David Prusinski, shares how an AI-first approach will give small fleets and repair shops the tools to compete like big players.
Read More →
Fleet Managers Share Winter Prep Tips: It's Never Too Early!
Three fleets share best practices to prep vehicles for winter and prevent downtime when the cold sets in.
Read More →
