SCRA Vehicle Lease Termination Fact Sheet
A U.S. Department of Justice fact sheet explaining servicemembers' rights to terminate vehicle leases early under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) when receiving qualifying military orders.
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About this document
A plain-language guide to the contents and context of this specific DOJ filing.
Eligibility for early lease termination
The document states servicemembers may terminate vehicle leases without penalty if they sign a lease and later: (1) enter active duty for at least 180 days, (2) receive deployment orders for 180+ days, or (3) receive permanent change-of-station, retirement, or separation orders requiring relocation outside their current region. Covered leases include personal, business, and family vehicles when the servicemember is on the lease.
Supported by PDF page 1Termination process requirements
To terminate a lease, servicemembers must provide written notice and a copy of military orders to the leasing company, then return the vehicle within 15 days. The leasing company may only charge prorated costs up to the return date and must refund prepaid amounts. Certain fees like early termination charges are prohibited.
Supported by PDF page 1Financial protections
The document specifies that lease holders must refund prepaid rental fees and prorate any capitalized cost reductions. They may only charge for excess wear, mileage, taxes, registration, or outstanding tickets. Concessions received at lease signing need not be repaid.
Supported by PDF pages 1, 2Additional rights and resources
The fact sheet notes protections don't apply to owned vehicles and directs servicemembers to legal assistance offices or the DOJ complaint portal for help. It clarifies that leases need no military clause to qualify and that spouses/dependents on joint leases share termination rights.
Supported by PDF page 2Document record
- Document type
- Other DOJ document
- Category
- Rights
- Publication date
- 2026-11-10
- DOJ office
- Civil Rights Division
- Case number
- Not stated by source
- Collected
- 2026-11-13
- Original filename
- scra_vehicle_lease_termination_fact_sheet.pdf
Source & integrity
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