Is leasing steering the trend for new cars, or is purchasing still in the fast lane?

Answer:

23.75% of new vehicle purchases were leases in Q2 2026.

Questions:

• What is the difference between buying a new car and leasing one?
• Why do you think many people rely on leasing?
• Do you think a leased car is a good financial decision? Why or why not?

Click here for the ready-to-go slides for this Question of the Day that you can use in your classroom.

Behind the Numbers: (Experian)

Experian's State of the Automotive Finance Market report for Q2 2026 breaks down new vehicle purchases by transaction type: 59.57% loans, 23.75% leases and 16.68% cash or unknown. Leases were 24.04% of new purchases a year earlier. The Honda CR-V was the most-leased model, with an average lease payment of $490 compared with $631 for a loan.

Want to learn more about the process of Buying a Car? Check out the Buying a Car mini-unit.

About the Author

Dave Martin

Dave joins NGPF with 15 years of teaching experience in math and computer science. After joining the New York City Teaching Fellows program and earning a Master's degree in Education from Pace University, his teaching career has taken him to New York, New Jersey and a summer in the north of Ghana. Dave firmly believes that financial literacy is vital to creating well-rounded students that are prepared for a complex and highly competitive world. During what free time two young daughters will allow, Dave enjoys video games, Dungeons & Dragons, cooking, gardening, and taking naps.