Model Year Timing4 min read · Updated July 2026

Should you lease a 2025 or 2026? Here's what most buyers get wrong.

Most buyers assume leasing an older model year always means a better deal. Sometimes that's true. Often it isn't. Here's exactly when leasing a 2025 model saves you money — and when the 2026 is actually the smarter move.

The assumption most buyers make

When a buyer finds out a dealership still has 2025 models on the lot in July 2026, the instinct is usually "great — I can probably get a deal on that." The logic makes sense on the surface. The car is a year old. The dealer wants it gone. Discount time.

But leasing doesn't work the same way as buying. And the model year math is almost exactly backwards from what most people expect.

Why manufacturer support is everything in a lease

When you lease a vehicle, your monthly payment is determined by three things: the selling price of the vehicle, the residual value (what it's worth at lease end), and the money factor (the interest rate). Two of those three — the residual value and the money factor — are set by the manufacturer's finance arm, not the dealer.

Every month, GM Financial, Ford Motor Credit, Hyundai Motor Finance, and every other captive lender publishes updated lease programs. They set which vehicles get subvented (subsidized) rates and which ones don't. A subvented lease can be hundreds of dollars per month cheaper than a non-subvented one on the same vehicle.

Here's the critical point: manufacturers support the model year they want to sell. In July 2026, that's 2026 models — not 2025s.

The key insight

A manufacturer might offer a 2026 Silverado at a 2.4% equivalent money factor with strong residual support. That same manufacturer might offer zero lease support on remaining 2025 Silverados. The 2025 sits on the lot looking like a deal. The 2026 is actually the better lease.

The 2025 vs 2026 Silverado — a real example

This plays out on nearly every vehicle when a new model year arrives. Take the Chevrolet Silverado. As of July 2026, there are still thousands of 2025 Silverados on dealer lots. GM is actively supporting the 2026 model year with incentives, subvented money factors, and conquest cash for buyers switching from other brands.

Meanwhile, the 2026 Silverado is essentially the same truck as the 2025 with minor updates. The powertrain options are identical. The interior is the same. A buyer who spends 20 minutes comparing the two models would be hard pressed to find a meaningful difference in the vehicle itself.

But the lease math is very different. The 2026 has manufacturer lease support. The 2025 largely doesn't. That can translate to a $60–120/month difference in payment for the same truck — with the newer model year being cheaper to lease.

When leasing a 2025 model does make sense

There are specific windows where a previous model year lease is genuinely the better move. Understanding those windows is what separates informed buyers from everyone else.

August through October — model year changeover

When new model year vehicles start arriving on lots in late summer, dealers need to move 2025 inventory to make room. This is when you see genuine clearance pricing on outgoing models — sometimes $2,000–4,000 in additional dealer cash on top of whatever manufacturer support remains. This window is real and worth targeting if you want the outgoing model.

End of calendar year — December is different

December combines three pressures: end of month, end of quarter, and end of year. For 2025 vehicles that have been sitting since summer, this is typically when dealers get most aggressive. Manufacturer clearance programs often kick in. The best time to lease a 2025 model was December 2025 — not July 2026.

Major redesign years

When a vehicle is being completely redesigned for the next model year, the outgoing model often gets exceptional lease support. Manufacturers want to clear existing inventory before the new design arrives. If you love the current generation and don't want to wait for the 2027 redesign, this can be an excellent time to lease the 2026 model at clearance pricing.

When leasing a 2025 model doesn't make sense

Leasing a previous model year is likely not the smart move when:

✓You're shopping in the middle of the year and the 2026 model is already fully stocked on lots

✓The 2026 model had significant updates or a partial redesign

✓The manufacturer is actively supporting the 2026 model year with subvented rates

✓You're planning to buy out the lease — newer model year vehicles typically carry better residual values

The model year calendar — what to expect and when

January – March

Current year in full swing

Manufacturers are supporting 2026 models. 2025 vehicles have limited or no lease support. Lease the current year.

April – July

Mid-year — current year is the deal

2026 inventory is fully stocked. Manufacturer lease support is at its strongest. 2025 models are rarely worth pursuing for leasing.

August – October

Changeover window

2027 models begin arriving. Dealers need to move 2026 inventory. Genuine clearance opportunities emerge on outgoing models.

November – December

Year-end push — best deals of the year

End of month, end of quarter, end of year all align. Both outgoing and current model years see aggressive pricing. December is historically the best month to lease.

Frequently asked questions

Is it cheaper to lease a 2025 or 2026 model?

In most cases, the 2026 model is the better lease — even if the sticker price is higher. Manufacturers support the model year they want to sell with better money factors and residual values. The 2025 may have a lower price tag but often has little or no manufacturer lease support, making the monthly payment higher than you'd expect.

When is the best time to lease a 2025 model?

The best windows are August through October during the model year changeover, and November through December when dealers are clearing year-end inventory. Outside of those windows, the 2026 model is almost always the better lease.

Should I lease a 2025 or 2026 Silverado right now?

As of July 2026, GM is actively supporting the 2026 Silverado with subvented money factors and conquest cash. The 2025 has limited manufacturer lease support. In most cases the 2026 is the better lease right now — and the vehicles are nearly identical.

Does leasing an older model year save money?

Not automatically. The savings on a previous model year lease depend entirely on what the manufacturer is supporting. If the manufacturer has pulled lease support from the older model year — which typically happens by mid-year — you may actually pay more per month to lease the older vehicle than the newer one.

What is a subvented lease?

A subvented lease is one where the manufacturer's finance arm subsidizes the money factor (interest rate) or boosts the residual value to make the monthly payment more attractive. Subvented leases are typically only available on the current model year vehicles the manufacturer is actively trying to sell.

The AutoBidly approach

Before you decide between a 2025 and 2026 on any vehicle, check the Lease Intelligence Score for both model years. The score factors in current manufacturer support, inventory levels, and market timing — so you can see at a glance which model year is the better lease right now.

Then submit a BidLock™ for the vehicle and model year you decide on. Name your exact payment. Let verified dealers compete. You never have to negotiate model year timing with a salesperson — you already know the answer before you walk in.

Ready to find the right vehicle at the right time?

Check the Lease Intelligence Score for any vehicle, then submit a BidLock™ and let verified dealers compete for your business.

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