Vehicle leasing is when you rent a car or truck from someone else instead of buying it. With a lease, you don't own the vehicle—you rent it from a dealership or leasing company for a certain length of time, usually three or four years, and you have to pay a monthly fee. You need to return the car when the lease is up. You can't keep the car, but if you've paid your fees and returned the vehicle in good condition, you won't have to pay anything else for it.