Car buy out question
 

Hi everyone,

I have a question for everyone.

I'm nearing the end of my Lexus IS lease and I would like to buy the car out. The dealership is making me pay $600 on top of the buy out to pay for an inspection fee before I buy the car out.

Is that a normal thing? They said it's a legal thing they have to do. My question is, if I'm buying the car out that I'm already driving, why the hell do I have to pay another $600 for Lexus to inspect.

Is that a normal thing for buy outs?

Thanks!!

This is from the Motor Vehicle Sales Authority of British Columbia on the topic of lease buyouts. The link is a PDF file.

Lease‐end Inspection Fees
When are they legal? - mvsabc.com

It might also state that in the contract you signed when you leased the vehicle. Normally that charge is for all the paperwork and such

If all it says in your agreement is that it requires an inspection, and that document says just needs to be provincially authorized... get a regular provincial inspection anywhere that offers it for like $100 or $150 or whatever it costs to satisfy the requirement and tell them to go fuck themselves.......... $600, sheesh.

Its says you can find another Private vehicle inspector to check. Will probably be cheaper than 600$

"As a best practice, however, a Private Vehicle Inspection (PVI) can be completed by an inspector authorized by the province"

Legally a dealership isn't allowed to sell a vehicle to you without having it pass a road worthy safety inspection. Because you don't actually own the vehicle and are leasing it from the dealership they have to take this step. Cost on this is anywhere from $50-$100 depending on the dealership and they will have to replace anything that would deem the car unsafe (bald tires). They are probably wanting to collect another doc free from you which would be included in the $600

Which dealership is this?

^ +1, do tell

Lots of manufacturer dealerships have this in place. Yes, it is a safety concern as they are basically "selling" the car to you so they need to make sure their ducks are in a row. Ownership title transfer = vehicle sale. Technically you could buy the car out, have mechanical/safety problems, then go back to the dealership and complain. They would pretty much have no choice but to fix it or the VSA would be down their throat. Kind of a screwy system but it is what it is.

As others have mentioned, get an independent inspection and prove that it's safe for road use and if they bach at it, then you know they're fishing for that cash grab.

Usually you have to pay a premium on signing the lease that entitles you to buy the car out at the end of the lease.

Look at your lease paperwork, if you've already paid this premium at the beginning of the lease (As I did with my GTI) and there is no mention of an additional cost associated with this "inspection" then tell them to get fucked or show you where it was disclosed to you and you agreed to it. If the cost of this inspection was never disclosed when you signed the agreement, you can't be expected to pay it.