High-mileage drivers also may opt for buying over leasing. Leases generally allow 10,000 to 12,000 a year before a penalty of 15 cents a mile kicks in. But for those who like driving a different car every few years, leasing could be attractive. It also offers flexibility - if you decide you don't like the car as much as you thought, you can be rid of it in a few years. It also conserves capital, Langenderfer said, since most leases require less money upfront over buying and in some cases, no upfront funds at all.
Monthly payments are lower as well, since the leaser is only paying on a portion of the car's value.
Langenderfer charges more for his used-car service than for new cars because it takes more time. Once the client knows in general the kind of car he wants and how much he can afford, Langenderfer said he hits all the used-car lots from Bradenton through Venice, often on Sundays when they're closed, to find vehicles for the buyer to look at later.