CINCINNATI, Ohio – Swapalease.com, the nation’s largest car lease marketplace, reports car lease credit applicants registered a 72.7% approval rate in December.  The approval rate is significant considering approval ratings hit a low of 63.8% in April, the lowest rate reported since January of 2018.

We’ve continued to see slight increases month-over-month since May, and we’re optimistic at the outlook for the 2021 calendar year.

With the holiday season being an optimal time to buy or lease a vehicle, it is no surprise that approval ratings saw an increase in December. According to Experian’s State of the Automotive Finance Market Report, in the second quarter of 2020, nearly 26% of new vehicles were leased. While this number is down from pre-pandemic levels, Swapalease.com believes many of its site visitors have solid credentials available to take over a person’s vehicle lease. The inclination to have more flexibility through leasing amidst economic uncertainly may contribute to a rise in shoppers who are looking to lease vehicles.

December has historically turned out a higher lease credit approval rating, likely due to end of year sales and lease deals. In December of 2019, 72% of applicants were approved to take over another person’s lease, and in December of 2018, 71.4% of applicants were approved.

“The automotive industry took a hard hit in early 2020, especially as stay-at-home mandates were implemented and businesses were temporarily shut down,” said Scot Hall, Executive Vice President of Operations at Swapalease.com.  “We’ve continued to see slight increases month-over-month since May, and we’re optimistic at the outlook for the 2021 calendar year.”

Swapalease.com matches a person wanting out of their existing vehicle lease contract with a car shopper looking to take over a short-term vehicle lease. The marketplace has thousands of cars and trucks available for transfer to anywhere in the continental U.S.