Looking for advice on lease end for our VW

I'm not great with paperwork and numbers but I'll try to keep this short and simple.

Girlfriend leased car from VW nearly 3 years ago (3 year lease; ends this December)

Looking to get a loan from a local (highly recommended) credit union (or her bank) to buy it out and finance what is left on the vehicle.

Her online portal will not offer a PDF of her payout form, instead says to go to dealer, so we did... Ironically enough walked right into the gentleman who we dealt with 3 years ago, tell him we're there to acquire a payoff form to purchase the vehicle now that we are close to lease end. Great.

Before we walk inside, asks if he can get the VIN number and the current mileage, sure, whatever, I see where this is going.

After trying to convince us to buy it out through him/dealership, we kindly decline and simply ask if we can have the payoff form so we can take it to the lender of our choosing and proceed on our own accord. Leaves, comes back 10 minutes later with a form that does not say once on it "lease payoff/buyout" or anything along those lines. Instead, looks like a rough copy of what you would be given if you were trading in a vehicle. He says "this is it". Ok.

Mind you, there are still 3 ($350 each) before the lease officially ends, however the form he brought out (which reads FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY) does not seem to match what is on the original lease agreement we made 3 years ago.

When asked if the top form's "advertised price" means the residual price that was originally agreed upon, he deflected, said "no this is a whole new thing". Then, when asked "ok, so we can take this form to our 3rd party lender as the final payoff form" he said "you can but it can only be handled through VW". WHAT?!

Is it me, or does this seem like total shit? Looking to be paid for "dealership handling fees" when that should have been paid already.

 

you need to get a hold of the place that you've been sending payments to. they should be the ones to give you a payoff amount and where to send it.

I haven't dealt with leases a lot but seems to me that VW dealer might have to verify your mileage(to make sure you don't owe for going over the allotted miles on the lease). It does seem hokey with that salesperson. Try bypassing them and talk to a manager and take that yellow paper from your lease.

 

If we're buying the vehicle and not turning it in, the mileage should not be any of their business though.

The creditor, VW credit, says there is nothing they can do because we are in Florida, which is a state where you "must go to the dealership to get the payoff form" not sure if that's only with VW though. I can download my payoff form from Toyota though, so must be a VW thing.

 

Try a different dealer, or at least call a few and ask how it works. Some of the Florida dealers are really shady so you need to find a decent one. Good luck!

 

they're just trying to get their $. so they want to see that you didn't go over.

I've never dealt with the dealer when it comes to payoff of a vehicle but it sounds like Florida is, well Florida I guess.

I agree with @rtzx9r though and try other dealers

 

What does the actual lease document say concerning the option to buy at the end of the lease?

 

You don't own the vehicle. VW owns it you have to play by their rules. Doesn't look like the purchase option box is marked. Remember the GM EV1? They were all leased and none were allowed purchase at the end of the lease!
They should not be able to change rules or terms that is why there are contracts.
Leases are bad news in my book. Too many loopholes and backdoor asshatery.

 

There are 2 Xs just to the left right of the box, and there is a price in the purchase price field. That sure seems like the intent was to allow a purchase option at the end of the lease.

 

It is checked, their XX's are offset throughout the document.

The document reads that the vehicle may be purchased at the end of the lease for that amount, no "purchase fee" but doesn't include any OFFICIAL GOVT fees.

 

And they would never use offset XXs against you
Contact VW see if they can clear it up with the dealer. If not, turn the damn thing in and go buy one somewhere else.