Renting or buying a car: which is better in 2026?

In 2026, choosing how to use a car is no longer a straightforward decision. New car prices have reached unprecedented levels, while the automotive sector is undergoing a profound transformation: internal combustion engines are increasingly penalized, there is a strong push towards electric vehicles, and environmental regulations are constantly evolving.

In this context of uncertainty, buying a car can become an economic risk, especially if all real costs over time are not considered. It’s not just about the sticker price, but also insurance, maintenance, depreciation, and unexpected expenses that significantly impact household or business budgets. For this reason, more and more private individuals and freelancers are asking themselves a key question:

Is it really worth buying a car or is long-term leasing the smarter choice?

In this guide, we will analyze the comparison between long-term leasing and purchasing, starting from an often underestimated but decisive factor: the TCO (Total Cost of Ownership), i.e., the overall cost of using a car over time.

The automotive market in 2026: Why has owning a car become a risk?

Today, the car market is profoundly different from just a few years ago. Those deciding to buy a vehicle now face not only the sticker price but a series of variables that make ownership increasingly unpredictable economically. Stricter environmental regulations, rapid technological evolution, and rising operating costs are changing the rules of the game. One of the main risks of purchasing is vehicle depreciation. Internal combustion cars, particularly diesel and gasoline, lose value faster than in the past due to:

restrictions on urban circulation
European policies increasingly focused on reducing emissions
growing uncertainty about the future of traditional engines

This means that after a few years, reselling a car can be difficult or unprofitable, resulting in a significant financial loss for the owner. In addition to depreciation, operating costs are increasingly significant and often overlooked when purchasing:

RCA Insurance: average premiums have increased by about 30% compared to 2022
Ordinary and extraordinary maintenance: rising spare parts and labor costs lead to an average annual increase of 4%
Unexpected repairs: modern, increasingly technological cars require more complex and costly interventions

These expenses make it difficult to accurately predict the annual budget, especially for families and freelancers who need careful financial planning. Another element of risk is the technological transition. Many drivers face a real dilemma:

buy a combustion car that could depreciate quickly
switch to electric, fearing too rapid technological evolution
choose a hybrid without knowing how competitive it will be in the medium term

Car ownership exposes users to choices that are hard to reverse, with the risk of ending up a few years later with a less desirable or market-penalized vehicle.

Real cost comparison: Buying or long-term leasing?

To truly understand whether buying a car or opting for long-term leasing is better, it is essential to go beyond the sticker price and analyze the real costs over time. The most accurate parameter is the TCO, i.e., the total cost of using a vehicle, considering all expenses accumulated during the ownership period. Below is a clear and concrete comparison, based on a 36-month horizon, the most common period for current mobility choices. Cost comparison table (36 months)

Cost item	Ownership purchase	Long-term lease
Initial investment	High, with capital tied up or down payment + financing	Minimal or zero down payment, liquidity preserved
Ordinary and extraordinary maintenance	Fully borne by the owner, with rising costs	Included in the fee, no surprises
Insurance	Annual premium variable and subject to increases	Comprehensive coverage included in the fee
Depreciation	Total risk for the user	Zero risk
Financial charges	High interest on car loans	Often absent or already included

In 2026, car operating costs have become an increasingly significant item. With ownership, many expenses are:

unpredictable
subject to inflation
linked to market variables that are difficult to control

Long-term leasing, on the other hand, transforms uncertain costs into a fixed, predictable monthly fee, allowing individuals and freelancers to have a clear view of their budget.

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3 reasons why long-term leasing wins

In the current context, long-term leasing, besides being an alternative to purchase, is a true economic protection strategy. There are at least three concrete reasons why this option is advantageous for individuals and freelancers.

Protection from diesel and traditional engine volatility

Today, the diesel market is characterized by high uncertainty. The gradual equalization of taxes between diesel and gasoline, combined with circulation restrictions in large cities, makes it difficult to predict the residual value of used cars.

Those buying a car today assume the entire risk of sudden depreciation. With long-term leasing, this risk does not fall on the user but is the responsibility of the leasing company, not the client. In practice, you use the car without being exposed to market fluctuations.

Experience electric vehicles without obsolescence anxiety

The transition to electric vehicles is well underway, but many drivers hesitate to take the final step. The most common concerns are:

battery lifespan and evolution
rapid technological progress
fear of buying a car that becomes outdated after a few years

Long-term leasing provides a concrete solution: try an electric or plug-in hybrid car without long-term commitments. At the end of the contract, you can switch models or technologies, following market evolution without tying up capital.

Budget management with fixed costs and no surprises

An unexpected mechanical repair can heavily impact the budget. Average costs have risen by about 15% compared to previous years, especially for electronic components and advanced driver assistance systems. With long-term leasing, the following are included in the fee:

ordinary and extraordinary maintenance
insurance coverage
24/7 roadside assistance
vehicle tax management

The result is an all-inclusive monthly fee, allowing precise financial planning without surprises. A decisive advantage for both families and those who use the car for work.

Tax benefits for freelancers and companies

Besides convenience and economic security, long-term leasing offers concrete tax benefits, particularly interesting for freelancers and companies. The regulations allow for optimizing deductions and allowances, reducing the overall tax burden associated with car use. Leasing fees are deductible from income to varying degrees depending on vehicle use:

Business use (car used exclusively for work): deductibility up to 100%
Mixed use (car used for both work and personal purposes): typically 70% deductible

This means that a significant portion of the monthly fee can be subtracted from taxable income, effectively reducing net expenditure. VAT on leasing fees can also be recovered to varying degrees depending on usage:

Business use: VAT deductible up to 100%
Mixed use: VAT deductible up to 40%

In practice, a company or professional can recover a substantial portion of VAT, gaining an immediate financial advantage compared to purchasing, where VAT on a new car is only partially deductible and often subject to limitations. For companies and freelancers, long-term leasing is not only economically convenient but also a concrete and immediate tool for tax optimization.

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Data and real cost analysis show that long-term leasing is advantageous in most cases, especially for those seeking flexibility, economic security, and simplified budget management. Purchasing may still make sense in certain specific situations: