Tips on Buying Cars: Leasing a mini van, tax adviser, lease documents


Question
Never leased before. May want to look into leasing
a minivan.  I hear I could do that for less than $300 per month these days.  Is that true?

For work I only get gas allowance. Live is Des Moines, Iowa.  

The lease documents I've seen scare me. Can you give a couple of the main items I need to look at in a lease contract so I don't get taken?  

Answer
Easy question, extremely difficult answer.  Leasing is almost never the best way to obtain a vehicle unless you can write it off as a business expense.  Your tax adviser would have to answer that question.  As to what to look out for you need to know the mileage you are allowed, the conditions for returning the vehicle, the mileage charged if you go over the limit and, even though these are rare, if this is a financial(known in the trade as open ended) lease where you are responsible for the value---as opposed to the condition---of the vehicle when you turn it in.  If you have doubts I will be pleased to answer any specific questions.  Best of luck, Bud