How Old Must You Be to Lease a Car?

You must be at least 18 years old to lease a car, and some leasing companies may have additional restrictions on who can drive leased vehicles. Because a lease is a legal contract -- and minors are restricted in their ability to sign contracts -- car-leasing companies have strict rules when it comes to those under 18.

Some leasing companies allow teenagers to drive leased vehicles, but a parent must sign the lease. In some instances, this parent signs as a co-lessee on the leasing contract. If the intent of the lease is for a person younger than 18 to drive the vehicle, parents should check with a leasing company before signing. Some lessors don't allow anyone under 18 to drive the vehicle. Others require that you ask permission and have the teen included as a named driver on the lease. Typically, any vehicle lease restricts driving to the lessee -- or the lessee and his spouse -- without expressed permission.

Beyond contract limitations, a lease for a person younger than 18 is often impractical, according to LeaseGuide.com. Leases normally restrict mileage to about 12,000 per year, which won't work for a teen driver who is active. There is also a lot of pressure on the lessee to keep the car in good condition, as repairs must be paid for and completed prior to returning the car and the end of the contract term. You can't modify a leased car either, so a teen who wants a souped-up speaker system or chrome wheels is out of luck.

For young adults, 18 and older, leasing has become a more popular choice relative to buying, according to an April 2013 Fox Business article. The portion of young adults buying new cars began to decline sharply after 2007 as leasing became a more common way to obtain a vehicle.