How to Avoid Lease Mileage Overage Fees
Leasing a car comes with one big catch: mileage limits. Go over, and you'll pay for every extra mile—typically 15 to 30 cents each. On a lease with a 10,000-mile annual limit, going just 3,000 miles over could cost you $900 at turn-in.
The good news? Overage fees are completely avoidable if you stay on top of your mileage throughout your lease.
Know Your Numbers
Before anything else, understand your lease terms:
Annual mileage allowance (usually 10,000, 12,000, or 15,000 miles)
Total miles allowed over the full lease term
Cost per excess mile (check your contract)
Most people sign their lease and forget these numbers. Don't be most people.
Track Early and Often
The biggest mistake? Waiting until the last few months to check your odometer. By then, it's too late to adjust.
Instead, log your odometer at least once a week. This helps you spot trends early. If you're averaging 1,100 miles per month but your budget is 1,000, you'll know within the first few months—not the last.
Create a Monthly Budget
Divide your total allowed miles by the number of months in your lease. That's your monthly mileage budget.
For example:
36-month lease with 36,000 total miles = 1,000 miles/month
24-month lease with 24,000 total miles = 1,000 miles/month
Simple math, but incredibly powerful when you track against it.
Adjust Your Habits
If you're trending over, you have options:
Combine trips to reduce unnecessary driving
Carpool or use rideshare for longer commutes
Use a second vehicle for road trips if available
Work from home an extra day per week if possible
Small adjustments early beat panic driving restrictions later.
Use Technology
Spreadsheets work, but they're tedious. A dedicated app can automate the math and show you instantly if you're on pace.
The best trackers show you:
Whether you're under or over your budget right now
How many miles you can drive per day going forward
Projected overage fees if you continue at your current pace
What If You're Already Over?
Don't panic. You have options:
Buy extra miles from the dealer (often cheaper than overage rates)
Negotiate at turn-in (sometimes dealers waive fees to earn your next lease)
Purchase the vehicle (overage doesn't matter if you buy it)
The Bottom Line
Lease overage fees are a surprise only if you're not paying attention. Track your mileage from day one, know your monthly budget, and adjust early if needed.
A few minutes of tracking each week can save you hundreds—or even thousands—at lease end.
🧮 Overage Fee Calculator
See what going over could cost you