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Toyota and Lexus lease buyout in Los Angeles: we still buy your lease
Updated October 13, 2026
Can I still sell my leased Toyota or Lexus to someone other than a Toyota dealer? Toyota Financial Services and Lexus Financial Services now limit who can pay off their leases. As of October 2026, CarMax, Carvana and dealers of other brands generally can't buy out a Toyota or Lexus lease anymore. IMX Auto in Burbank still can. We appraise the car, settle the payoff with Toyota or Lexus Financial, and pay you any equity by check the same day.
Find out what your Toyota or Lexus lease is worth today.
What changed with Toyota and Lexus lease buyouts?
For years, Toyota Financial Services (TFS) and Lexus Financial Services (LFS) were among the few captive lenders that let almost any dealer pay off one of their leases. That made a Toyota or Lexus lease easy to sell to CarMax, Carvana or a dealer of another brand. Since October 1, 2026, TFS and LFS have stopped accepting most of those third-party payoffs, which puts Toyota and Lexus in the same group as Honda Financial and GM Financial.
Toyota Financial Services' lease-end instructions say a leased vehicle you don't buy must go back to an authorized Toyota or Lexus dealer. Dropping it at any other dealership counts as an "unauthorized third-party vehicle return," and you stay responsible for the lease until TFS receives the payoff and paperwork.
What that means for you: if your Toyota or Lexus is worth more than its payoff, most of the buyers who used to compete for that equity are gone. Fewer offers usually means less money in your pocket.
Which Toyota and Lexus leases are affected?
Any lease held by Toyota Financial Services or Lexus Financial Services. That covers most new Toyota and Lexus leases written in California, including the Camry, RAV4, Corolla, Highlander, Tacoma, Tundra and Prius, and the Lexus RX, NX and ES. The lender's name is on your monthly statement and in your online account. If a different bank holds your lease, that bank's rules apply instead, and we can tell you which ones on a quick call.
What are my options at the end of a Toyota or Lexus lease?
| Option | How it works | What happens to your equity |
|---|---|---|
| Return it to a Toyota or Lexus dealer | Turn the car in. Only the dealer where you signed the lease is required to accept it. | You walk away from any equity. A disposition fee of up to $350 can apply unless TFS waives it. |
| Sell or trade it at a Toyota or Lexus dealer | Toyota and Lexus dealers can still buy the lease. | You get one dealer's number, often tied to buying your next car there. |
| Buy it out yourself, then sell it | Pay TFS or LFS the purchase price, wait for the title, then find a buyer. | You need the cash or a loan, California tax applies to your purchase, and the title can take weeks to arrive. |
| Sell it to CarMax, Carvana or another brand's dealer | Most of these buyers can no longer pay off a TFS or LFS lease. | Usually not available now. |
| Sell it to IMX Auto in Burbank | We appraise the car in person and settle the payoff with TFS or LFS. | You get the difference by check the same day, and you don't have to buy another car from us. |
Toyota or Lexus lease ending soon? Call with your VIN and mileage for a range before you drive in.
How can IMX buy a Toyota or Lexus lease when CarMax can't?
IMX completes Toyota and Lexus lease purchases through dealer channels Toyota Financial Services still recognizes, the same way we buy restricted Honda and Acura leases. We pull your payoff, pay the lender directly and handle the title paperwork. You never take ownership of the car and you never go to the DMV. The exact path depends on your lease, so we confirm it before you sign anything.
How do I sell my Toyota or Lexus lease to IMX?
- Call (818) 303-0800, or get a free estimate online with your VIN and mileage.
- Bring the car to 811 N Victory Blvd in Burbank for a 15-minute inspection. We pull your exact payoff from Toyota or Lexus Financial while you're here.
- Sign, and leave with a check for your equity the same day. You can cash it or deposit it.
Bring your driver's license, both keys and your lease account number or a recent statement. Our offers are good for 5 calendar days, so you have time to compare. Selling an owned Toyota instead? See our sell your Toyota or Lexus page.
Does my Toyota or Lexus lease have equity?
Lease equity is what your car is worth today minus your current payoff. If your payoff is $28,000 and we offer $32,000, you have about $4,000 in equity before any transaction-specific adjustments. Toyota and Lexus models are known for holding their value, so a lease signed two or three years ago can be worth more today than the residual printed on your contract.
Use your current payoff, not the residual on your paperwork. The two can differ, especially before the lease ends. We pull the live payoff and appraise the actual car, then show you both numbers side by side. If there's no equity, we tell you, and you're free to walk away at no cost. Weighing whether to keep the car instead? Read should I buy out my lease.
Do I pay California tax when I sell my lease to IMX?
If you buy out the lease yourself to keep the car, California tax applies to that purchase. When you sell the lease to a dealer like IMX, the dealer takes ownership for resale, so you don't pay tax on the buyout yourself. Tax treatment depends on how the deal is structured, so confirm it for your own situation. Our lease buyout center page has more detail.
Why Los Angeles drivers sell Toyota and Lexus leases to IMX
IMX has bought, sold and leased cars from one location in Burbank since 1988 and has more than 1,000 customer reviews. We inspect your car in person instead of relying on an algorithm, and we make the same offer whether or not you get your next car from us. Customers come to us from Burbank, Glendale, Pasadena, North Hollywood, Studio City, Sherman Oaks, Van Nuys, Hollywood and the rest of Los Angeles.
811 N Victory Blvd, Burbank. Mon to Fri 9 to 7, Sat 9 to 6.
Toyota and Lexus lease buyout questions
- Can CarMax or Carvana still buy out my Toyota or Lexus lease?
- Generally no. Since October 1, 2026, Toyota Financial Services and Lexus Financial Services have stopped accepting most third-party payoffs, so CarMax, Carvana and other-brand dealers usually can't complete the purchase. IMX still can.
- Can a Toyota or Lexus dealer still buy my lease?
- Yes. Toyota and Lexus dealers can still buy or accept your lease. Only the dealer where you signed the lease is required to take it back, so call ahead if you plan to use a different store.
- Does IMX buy Lexus leases too?
- Yes. Lexus Financial Services is part of Toyota Financial Services, and we buy Lexus leases the same way we buy Toyota leases.
- What happens if I leave my leased Toyota at a dealer that isn't allowed to buy it?
- Toyota Financial Services treats that as an unauthorized third-party return. You stay responsible for the lease until TFS receives the payoff and all required paperwork.
- Can I sell my Toyota or Lexus lease before it ends?
- Often, yes. The cost depends on your contract and your current payoff, which can be higher than the residual early in the lease. We pull the live payoff so you can see whether selling now makes sense.
- How fast do I get paid?
- The same day. After a 15-minute inspection we settle the lease with the lender and hand you a check you can cash or deposit.