They come up with an inflated residual value, and by doing that, in essence, they're discounting the vehicle. Luxury car dealers sometimes discount slow-moving models using the same technique. If you turn the car in with dents, mismatched paint, a non-working CD player or other signs of disrepair that the lessor considers excessive, you'll be charged for the cost to repair these items. The contract should spell out what is considered excess wear and tear. If it doesn't, ask the leasing agent.
Excess mileage is another critical issue.
A standard lease allows a maximum of 15,000 miles per year. This decision isn't one to be taken lightly. You'll be charged between 10 cents and 25 cents for every mile you drive beyond the amount specified on your lease. 12,000 miles per year is 1,000 miles per month. Divide that by an average of 30 days in a month and that gives you 33.3 miles per day.