Car lease deals for UCI students in Irvine

Current lease deals

These are the deals on the desk right now, the same list as our deals page, and it updates as we add more. Text the one you want, or send us a different car and we quote it.

Mercedes-Benz deals are by request. Mercedes-Benz deals can't be advertised publicly due to manufacturer advertising rules, and honestly our numbers are too good to post. Contact us for current deals on any Mercedes-Benz model. Text (714) 471-8775 or get a quote.

Your first lease, in plain terms

A lease is a long rental of a new car, usually 24 to 36 months, with a set number of miles per year. You pay for the part of the car's value you use, plus a finance charge and fees, and you hand the car back at the end or buy it.

The numbers that matter most are the amount due at signing, the monthly payment, the term, the miles per year and the cost per mile if you go over. Ask for each of them in writing before you agree to anything.

Credit, cosigners and a first approval

Lease approval depends on the leasing company, not on us or the store. Many students have a short credit history or none at all. That does not rule out a lease, but it can mean a larger amount due at signing, a different term, or a cosigner such as a parent with established credit.

If you are an international student without a US credit history, tell us at the start. Some lenders have options and some do not, and we explain what is realistic before you spend time on a car you cannot get approved for.

Some manufacturers run recent college graduate programs through their finance companies. Rules, eligibility and models change, so ask us and we check whether a current program applies to the car you want.

Insurance before delivery day

A leased car needs full coverage insurance that meets the leasing company's limits, which are usually higher than the California minimum. Get a quote before you pick a car, because insurance for a young driver can change which car makes sense.

If you will be on a parent's policy, ask the insurer how that works for a leased car registered in your name or theirs.

Low mileage leases for life near campus

Plenty of students live in University Park, Turtle Rock, Campus Village or nearby apartments and drive only short trips around Irvine, to Newport Beach and to the coast. A lower mileage lease can lower the payment for that kind of driving.

If you head home to Los Angeles, San Diego or the Inland Empire most weekends, count those miles honestly. Going over the allowance is charged per mile at the end, and buying more miles up front is usually cheaper.

• Short local driving: a lower mileage lease may fit
• Regular weekend trips home: add up the round trips before choosing miles
• Internship or job across the county: plan for the longer commute
• Leaving after graduation: match the lease term to your plans, since ending early costs money

Cars students ask us for

Efficient compact cars and small SUVs that fit in apartment garages and campus parking, hybrids for the gas savings, and electric cars for students who can charge at home or near campus. Check campus parking rules and permits before you choose a car.

How we shop it for you

Text us the car you want, your miles, your ZIP and whether a cosigner is involved. We ask franchised dealers in Irvine, Tustin and across Southern California for the same written numbers and send you the options together, and we tell you when an offer you already have is the cleaner one.

Green Light Auto Broker is an autobroker. All new cars arranged for sale are subject to price and availability from the selling franchised new car dealer.

Questions