Can You Modify a Leased Vehicle?

Leasing has been a popular option when it comes to getting a new vehicle. It allows you to "rent" the vehicle you want for a certain number of miles and (usually) for a long time compared to regular rentals. You make monthly payments to drive the vehicle, and at the end of the lease, you either return it or you can choose to buy it out if your terms allow that option. 

Leasing terms vary between 24 months and 48 or even 60 months. Even if you do not own the vehicle for this duration, it is a long time, so you may want to customize it to enjoy it even better. But can you do it? The answer may sound like “no” if you ask the dealer or want to play it too safe, but there are some ways to upgrade your leased car.

Can You Customize a Leased Car?

It is a tricky question and has no straightforward answer. From simple add-ons to rebuilding the vehicle from the ground up, customizing a vehicle is a vast industry, and the sky (and your bank account) is the limit. A leased car is still owned by the dealership, so anything permanent is a no-go when upgrading.

Most lease agreements come with strict guidelines when it comes to modifications. You have to consider the reversibility of the upgrades, as you have to return the vehicle in the same condition it was given if you’re not buying out at the end of the lease term. You can definitely buy accessories like seat covers or all-weather floor mats, et cetera, but these are not considered “upgrades” in our book. When it comes to the modifications that alter the looks or performance of the vehicle, the good thing is there are reversible options.

Window tints, basic intake and exhaust mods, bigger wheels, and stickier tires all significantly upgrade the vehicle’s comfort levels, looks, or performance, and you can remove them and return the vehicle back to stock whenever you want.

Lease-Friendly Mods for Better Looks

Window Tinting

Window tinting involves applying a thin layer of film to the inside surface of a vehicle’s glass to darken it. People have many reasons to get their windows tinted, some of which are aesthetic. Some people think that tinted windows look cool. Other reasons include privacy, security, UV protection, or heat protection.

Make sure your state allows tinted windows, and then check your lease agreement. Many agreements allow tinting, and many dealers even offer it for your leased vehicle as an upgrade. If you’re going to get the windows tinted in a third-party shop, ensure it’s reputable. Poor-quality window tints may become a hassle when it’s time to take them off.

Wheels and Tires

One of the most significant upgrades for enhancing a vehicle's looks is replacing and going for bigger wheels and wider tires. Getting lightweight wheels and stickier tires is also a great way to enhance the vehicle's handling, so it is kind of like hitting two birds with one stone.

The good thing about upgrading the wheels and tires of your leased car is that you keep the parts for yourself, so you’re not completely wasting your money. A set of wheels is not an investment, but you can fit them to another vehicle in the future if the bolt pattern and sizing match. Or you can just sell them separately.

Keep the original wheels and tires that came on your leased vehicle. When it's time to return it, you must remove the upgraded wheels and tires and fit the factory ones.

Lease-Friendly Go-Fast Mods

Air Intakes and Exhaust Systems

If you have enough space in your house or garage to store some engine parts, changing the intake and exhaust system is another upgrade you can do to a leased vehicle. These upgrades do not require extensive or permanent modifications and can be reverted back to stock just as easily.

An aftermarket intake kit usually has a performance-type air filter and some piping to locate that filter away from the engine heat. Cold air intake kits allow your engine to suck in colder and denser air, and create more efficient combustion, resulting in a cool sound and a couple of more horsepower, especially when coupled with an exhaust system upgrade.

Exhaust modifications, however, can be more challenging. But as long as you keep it subtle and go for nothing more than a cat-back system, they can be reverted back to stock, too. A more free-flowing exhaust than the stock system lets the engine breathe more freely. It helps make more power in most cases, especially if the exhaust system is engineered specifically for that engine. 

Like wheels and tires, you get to keep the air intake and exhaust systems. You can sell them to get some of your money back.

And we have saved the best upgrade for a leased vehicle to the last…

Pedal Commander: The Best Upgrade for a Leased Vehicle

Upgrading a leased vehicle is all about subtlety and reversibility back to factory specifications. You can definitely enhance the vehicle's looks, make it more comfortable, or even add a couple of horsepower with mods that can easily be removed. But almost none of them will improve your driving experience as significantly as the Pedal Commander throttle response controller.

The Pedal Commander throttle controller is an aftermarket performance upgrade for almost any vehicle with an electronic throttle system. It comes with vehicle-specific throttle maps and alters the throttle signal. Pedal Commander throttle controller removes the initial throttle lag and lets the throttle valve open 100% in wide-open-throttle situations, allowing you to access your vehicle's full potential.

Pedal Commander offers four preset driving modes (Eco, City, Sport, and Sport+), each with its own nine increment levels. So, you get 36 throttle sensitivity options to choose from. You can precisely tune the throttle sensitivity and choose better fuel efficiency, sharper throttle response through daily driving, or a fully aggressive throttle response for spirited drives. Pedal Commander does not add horsepower, but it significantly improves your driving experience.

What’s more, Pedal Commander does all of this without interfering with the vehicle’s ECU. It does not permanently change anything, and it is not an extensive modification. You can DIY the whole installation process with our step-by-step guide. It is mostly a 15-minute job to install, and it is just as easily removable, so you can revert the vehicle back to stock anytime you want and leave no traces behind.

Learn more about the best mod for your leased vehicle. Click here to order yours and transform your driving experience!