You can better understand how to rent a motorcycle after reading this post.
Consider leasing a motorcycle rather than purchasing a new or used bike if you’re ready to hit the open road in search of adventure. A motorcycle lease might be a good option instead of traditional financing, depending on how much money you want to spend and how long you want to keep your bike.
A motorcycle lease probably has lower payments than financing, similar to an auto lease. Nevertheless, not everyone should take this path. To help you make the best decision possible, we’ll examine the options.
Can You Lease a Motorcycle?
While renting a motorcycle is a possibility, it’s not very common. Similar to an auto lease, during the term of the lease you only pay for the value of the motorcycle. There are typically no mileage restrictions, unlike with a car lease, so you can travel as much as you like without incurring additional mileage charges. Some financial institutions enable clients to lease used motorcycles.
If you decide to keep the motorcycle after the lease is over, you will need to finance the purchase. You will have a few different options:
- Trade in the motorcycle for a newer one
- Buy the motorcycle outright by paying off the residual value
- Turn the bike in and walk away
Benefits of Leasing a Motorcycle
Financing your motorcycle might be your best option if you want to own one. However, renting a vehicle might be a good choice if all you want is something to ride so you can get a sense of what it’s like to own a motorcycle and perhaps even give it a try.
First off, there are fewer strict credit requirements for leasing a motorcycle than there are for loans. Even those with poor credit can be approved for a lease, though the interest rate may be higher.
A motorcycle lease is also for an arbitrary length of time. The length of time you want to rent the motorcycle is frequently your choice. This gives you the choice to lease a new motorcycle every year or two, which could be advantageous for a fan who wants to test out the newest models available.
While renting a motorcycle is an option, weigh its advantages and disadvantages. buying before you decide. For someone on a tight budget who wants to start riding, buying a used motorcycle model might be the better option due to the lower cost and quick depreciation of motorcycles.
But if you’re unsure whether riding a motorcycle is the right choice for you, it’s worth thinking about leasing a vehicle or doing a short-term rental.
How to Lease a Motorcycle?
Be sure to weigh all of your options before renting a motorcycle. Because motorcycles are generally less expensive, few dealerships offer to lease. However, leasing a motorcycle enables you to obtain a bike you might not otherwise be able to afford if you have bad credit and cannot be approved for a loan.
Motolease and Speedleasing are the two main businesses that offer motorcycle lease programs. You might be able to lease a motorcycle and leave the lot that same day if your dealer has a relationship with one of these businesses.
You should also keep in mind that some businesses only lease particular makes and models of motorcycles. For instance, Speedleasing restricts its leasing to motorcycles produced between 2007 and 2020, typically Harley-Davidsons and Indians from 2014 to 2020. If a machine is listed in the NADA Powersports guide, Motolease will lease it whether it is brand-new or used and up to 14 years old.
Ask about the requirements if the dealer offers to lease. A down payment of between 10% and 20% may be required. The duration of the lease is another important question to ask. This will typically be between 1.5 and 5 years.
You may exchange your current motorcycle for a new model at the conclusion of your lease term. Even though you can test out a variety of bikes with this, it isn’t the most economical choice. At the end of the lease, you can decide to buy the bike, which may require financing (and ongoing payments) for a few more years.
Where to Find a Motorcycle Lease?
You can typically apply for motorcycle lease financing online or at participating dealers. The typical range of lease terms is 18 to 60 months. Call the motorcycle dealer in advance to inquire about any leasing options if you have a specific bike in mind and want to rent it.
MotoLease
Either online or at a participating dealer, you can apply for a lease prequalification. Inform the company if you find a bike you’d like to lease but the dealer doesn’t offer MotoLease; they might be able to find a new dealer. Up to 14 model-year-old motorcycles and other power sport vehicles are eligible for lease options through MotoLease. There are no mileage restrictions.
According to MotoLease, it works with borrowers who have bad credit and has a 90% financing approval rate. If you want to lease a motorcycle that costs more than $20,000, you will need to pay a down payment or offer a trade-in to make up the difference since you can only finance up to $20,000. Terms range from 18 to 60 months with MotoLease, and you can end the lease early without incurring fees.
Horsepower Financial
This business specializes in leasing Harley-Davidson motorcycles for 36 months. Applying is available both online and at participating Harley dealers.
Speed Leasing
Speed Leasing focuses on new and used Harley-Davidson motorcycles manufactured after 2007, as well as new and used Indian motorcycles manufactured after 2014. There are no mileage restrictions on the lease or the initial mileage for a used motorcycle.
Leases with terms ranging from 24 to 60 months are available with no minimum income or credit requirements. They offer to finance to customers with bad credit or no credit at all. Depending on your credit history, the cost of the bike, and other factors, a down payment might be necessary.
Dealer Financing
Through its captive lender, Honda Financial Services, Honda is one of the only motorcycle manufacturers to provide leasing. Due to motorcycles’ overall lower cost and greater depreciation, the majority of dealers don’t provide in-house financing.
Conclusion: Lease a Motorcycle Now
Less frequently than leasing a car, it is still possible to lease a motorcycle. Although they are frequently less expensive than cars, motorcycles can still be expensive to buy. While monthly lease payments are typically less expensive than loan payments, you might end up paying more overall than if you had just purchased your bike outright.
Therefore, leasing may be simpler and more advantageous for you if you desperately want to buy a motorcycle but have poor credit. This implies that if you lease a bike and pay all of the payments on time, your credit situation may end up getting better.
FAQs
What Credit Do You Need to Lease a Motorcycle?
Numerous motorcycle leasing companies work with buyers who have bad credit, or no credit, or are rebuilding their credit scores; however, a minimum credit score is rarely specified. Undoubtedly, a higher credit score will lower your lease’s financing rate and possibly even lower your down payment and monthly payments.
What Should the Down Payment on a Motorcycle Be?
A down payment can lower your monthly payment and enable you to lease a more expensive bike than you could otherwise afford. Down payments can range from 10% to 30%.
