Reviewed by Arthur Geller, Auto Lease Concierge · Updated · How our numbers work
Dover Air Force Base is one of the biggest employers in Kent County, and service members ask me the same question: is leasing smart when orders could come at any time? The answer depends on what kind of orders, so it's worth knowing the rules before you sign.
This is general information, not legal advice. Your base legal office can review your specific orders for free.
What the SCRA lets you do with a car lease
The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (50 U.S.C. 3955) lets you end a vehicle lease early, without an early termination charge, in these cases:
- You signed the lease and then entered military service on orders of 180 days or more.
- While in service, you get PCS orders from the continental United States to a location outside it.
- While in service, you deploy with a unit, or on your own in support of an operation, for 180 days or more.
What the SCRA doesn't cover
Read the PCS rule carefully: the law's text covers a move from the continental U.S. to somewhere outside it. A PCS from Dover to another base in the lower 48 isn't on the list. If that's the more likely move for you, plan for it when you sign. You can usually take the car with you, as long as the leasing company allows registration in your new state.
How to end a lease under the SCRA
- Give the leasing company written notice and a copy of your orders. The law allows hand delivery, a private carrier, certified mail with return receipt, or electronic delivery that's likely to actually reach them.
- Return the car within 15 days of delivering that notice.
- The lease ends on the day you return the car. Any amounts you paid in advance for time after that must be refunded within 30 days.
You still owe payments through the return date, plus any excess mileage or wear charges, taxes, tickets and title fees.
Registration while you're stationed in Delaware
The Delaware DMV's new resident guidelines say service members and their dependents don't have to get Delaware driver's licenses and vehicle registrations until 60 days after they leave the service. If you register in Delaware, the state's 5.25% document fee applies when the car is titled (how that fee works).
How I set up a lease for a military family
- We talk about your timeline first, then pick a term that fits it.
- We choose mileage for the PCS drive too, not just your daily commute.
- I quote for the state where the car will actually be registered.
- Some brands run military programs. I'll tell you which ones apply this month and what proof they ask for.
I shop multiple dealers and deliver free anywhere in Dover. See Dover lease deals or send me your orders timeline and the car you want.