Are you in the transportation industry and thinking about leasing a commercial truck instead of buying one? Weigh the pros and cons of leasing instead of buying before you decide what is right for you, personally. Perhaps, you would also like to invest in a ELD Device, you can check out The 10 Best ELD Devices – Reviewing 2019’s Top E-Logs, which will help you decide the best one to get after reading this guide! This guide to leasing a semi truck will be dependent on your personal financial situation, your future plans as a trucker and many other variables, but the general pros and cons are definitely worth considering before making your final decision.
“Should I Lease a Truck?” – The Pros
Pro: Lower upfront cost
Obviously buying a truck is expensive, but if you lease you might be able to put little to no money down. This means you could have your truck sooner than having to save your money for months or trying to qualify for a loan. If you have less than perfect credit, you might not even be able to get a loan at all, so leasing can be a better option. This is also the case when considering leasing a car for business use, so you might find a site like Intelligent Car Leasing useful in providing you with more information.
Pro: Shorter commitment
If you decide to lease your semi truck, it’s far less of a commitment than purchasing a truck, just like if you were to lease a car from somewhere like Conklin GMC. If you’re new to the trucking industry, it might be a better option to lease in case you end up wanting to switch career paths. If you purchase, you have to go through the challenge of selling a truck rather than just terminating your lease if you decide that trucking isn’t for you.
Pro: Less risky
Leasing a semi truck instead of buying your own is financially less of a risk. You’ll know the set amount every month you’re expected to pay when you lease and it offers you more flexibility in years to come rather than purchasing and owning a truck. If you’re slightly unsure about owning your own truck, leasing might be right for you.
Pro: Less maintenance
If you decide to lease a truck, it might be newer than the truck you would be able to afford if you purchased your own, so there should be fewer and less frequent payments for maintenance purposes with a leased commercial vehicle.
Pro: Can upgrade easily
Who doesn’t want the latest and greatest technology? If you lease your commercial vehicle, you’ll be able to upgrade your truck to include features you might not be able to implement into your truck if you own one.
“Why Shouldn’t I Lease a Truck?” – The Cons
Con: It’s technically not yours
Remember how much you loved your first car, even if it was embarrassingly old or ugly? Some drivers love their trucks just as much as they love their pets, kids or spouse (maybe even more!). If you purchase your own, you might not be able to upgrade the technological features as often, but it’s yours to make your own. You can’t really modify a leased truck like you could if it were your own.
Con: You might end up paying more
Although the amount you need initially to purchase a truck is a lot upfront, if you don’t end up buying a truck at the end of your lease, it might end up costing you more than it would have if you just bought one from the start.
Con: Lease agreements can be tricky
If you lease your semi truck, make sure you carefully read and examine the lease agreement before you sign. If you lease from the company you work for (if you aren’t an owner-operator), you might not be eligible for health benefits. They might even deduct the cost of the leased truck right from your paycheck, which isn’t necessarily horrible as long as you know what you’re getting yourself into.
In addition, some contracts will make you set aside specific amounts of money for different types of repairs, but the money set aside might not even be used for those repairs. As Truckers Report explains it, “If your tire escrow account has $1,000 in it, but the carrier requires a tire repair expense to be at least $500 before you can tap into it, you will be forced to pay most tire-related expenses yourself.” This might be frustrating if the situation arises.
How does purchasing a semi-truck save money in the long run?
Purchasing a semi-truck can lead to significant long-term financial savings for several reasons. Firstly, by making regular monthly payments on the truck, you are gradually building equity, similar to how one builds equity in a house. As you continue to make these payments, you eventually become the sole owner of the truck, allowing you to utilize it without any further financial obligations or monthly payments. Moreover, this ownership also presents the opportunity to trade in your truck for a newer model, utilizing the equity you have accumulated.
Additionally, purchasing a semi-truck can also yield tax benefits. Depreciation of the truck’s value may grant you a tax deduction, reducing your overall tax liability. Furthermore, you may also be eligible to deduct the interest paid on any loans acquired for purchasing the truck or its associated equipment. These tax write-offs can further contribute to saving money in the long run.
Comparing the costs between purchasing and leasing a truck, it becomes evident that while the initial investment in buying a semi-truck may be higher, the long-term cost-effectiveness is undeniable. Monthly payments for a purchased truck are typically smaller compared to leasing, resulting in substantial savings over time. With leasing, one would be continuously making payments without ever owning the vehicle, whereas purchasing allows you to have a tangible asset that can eventually be utilized or sold, ultimately benefiting your financial circumstances.
How does purchasing a semi-truck allow for building equity over time?
When you purchase a semi-truck, you have the opportunity to build equity over time in several ways. Firstly, similar to monthly mortgage payments on a house, each payment you make towards your truck contributes to building equity. As you consistently make these payments, the value of the truck that you own outright gradually increases. Upon completing all your payments, you become the sole owner of the truck, allowing you to continue using it without any ongoing financial obligations or use the equity to trade it in for a newer model.
Additionally, purchasing a semi-truck may offer tax benefits that contribute towards building equity. You may be eligible to take a tax write-off for the depreciation of your truck, which can help reduce your overall tax liability. Furthermore, the interest paid on loans taken out for equipment, such as a semi-truck, may also be tax-deductible, further reducing your financial burden and allowing you to allocate those savings towards building equity.
In summary, the process of purchasing a semi-truck allows for the gradual accumulation of equity. Through regular payments, you steadily increase your ownership stake in the truck, ultimately owning it outright. Moreover, potential tax write-offs for depreciation and interest paid on loans provide additional avenues to enhance your equity-building efforts.
So, should you buy or lease?
One of the biggest factors to consider when deciding whether you should be buying or leasing a semi truck deals solely with your financial status. If you’re an established trucking company, freight factoring can help you access the cash you’ve earned to buy or lease a truck. Contact us today to start factoring your freight bills and to make sure you’re getting the best rate in the trucking and transportation industry.
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