Consumer and banking · Motoring · the end of an LOA
Car lease ending in France: return, buyout and fees
At ordinary expiry of a French LOA car lease, you can exercise the contractual purchase option or return the vehicle under the agreed terms. Return costs depend on mileage, recorded condition and the contract. A security deposit differs from increased first rent, which is not automatically refundable. Compare remaining cash flows and fee evidence without applying borrower-default indemnities to ordinary expiry.
- Official texts cited
- Sources checked on
- Drafted with AI assistance, our method
General legal information with official references and dated checks. It is not personalised advice: for a decision that commits you, have your situation checked by a qualified professional.
Julie by AlphaDeep
Do default charges apply to every return?
Let’s examine LOA ending terms before comparing return and buyout.
3 free questions at signup. Avoid names and sensitive information.
Which amounts belong to each option?
| Item | Return | Buyout |
|---|---|---|
| Option price | No purchase | Outstanding contract amount |
| Condition and mileage | Check contract and report | Read applicable clauses |
| Deposit | Refund less deductions | Confirm purchase credit |
Service Public : location avec option d’achat et location longue durée
Which cash flows remain in your comparison?
The example separates €9,500 buyout and €350 return costs without assuming a deposit credit.
Fictional example · Your preparation worksheet
Future cash flows are compared excluding amounts already paid. Buyout gives ownership of the vehicle; return does not provide that asset.
- Remaining buyout flow, excluding unentered costs
- €9500.00
- Return costs less confirmed refundable deposit
- €350.00; negative means net return of money
- Check the option, ordinary expiry and return conditions in the contract.
- Compare initial and final condition reports, photographs and mileage.
- Separate the security deposit from increased first rent, then request itemised deductions.
Deposit credits must be confirmed by the contract, without double counting. No market value or automatic wear charge is assumed.
Is the contract an LOA or an LLD?
An LOA includes a purchase option and is treated as credit. An LLD has no such option. Also distinguish ordinary expiry from early termination or default before comparing amounts.
L312-2 : legal classificationService Public : location avec option d’achat et location longue durée
What does the governing text say about the end of an loa?
Pour l'application des dispositions du présent chapitre, la location-vente et la location avec option d'achat sont assimilées à des opérations de crédit.
In plain English: Credit classification and the 2026 transition do not replace the documented ordinary-expiry terms.
Which documents support return charges?
Compare mileage terms, initial and final reports, photographs and itemised invoices. Excess mileage, damage beyond normal wear and late return are separate items. No nationwide per-kilometre rate is assumed.
Service Public : location avec option d’achat et location longue durée
Is increased first rent a deposit?
No. Increased first rent is not automatically refundable. A deposit follows return or buyout terms and justified deductions. Check whether it has already been credited against the purchase option before deducting it again.
Service Public : location avec option d’achat et location longue durée
How can buyout and return be compared?
The tool separates remaining option price, documented return fees and confirmed deposit credits. These are not equivalent assets: buyout provides a vehicle; return does not. Add any unentered costs before an economic decision.
Service Public : location avec option d’achat et location longue durée
Which regime applies around 20 November 2026?
Ordinance 2025-880 takes effect on 20 November 2026. Existing credit agreements generally remain under earlier rules, with specified exceptions for certain open-ended agreements. Do not retroactively apply every new rule to an existing fixed-term LOA.
Ordonnance 2025-880, article 99 : commencement and existing contracts
What else should you know about the end of an loa?
Do default charges apply to every return?
No. L312-40 concerns default, distinct from ordinary expiry.
Is wear charged at a statutory fixed rate?
No universal allowance is used: check the contract, condition and evidence.
Service Public : location avec option d’achat et location longue durée
Is the deposit always fully refunded?
Check justified deductions and any credit towards buyout.
Service Public : location avec option d’achat et location longue durée
Does the result automatically recommend buyout?
No. It compares entered cash flows without valuing the vehicle or assessing mobility needs.
Service Public : location avec option d’achat et location longue durée
Which sources explain the end of an loa?
- L312-2 : legal classificationLégifrance / DILA
- L312-40 : default differs from ordinary expiryLégifrance / DILA
- Service Public : location avec option d’achat et location longue duréeService Public / DILA
- Ordonnance 2025-880, article 99 : commencement and existing contractsLégifrance / DILA
Texts cited last checked: 19 October 2026