A simple Answer TO yOUr Question
What hidden costs should I include in my car budget?
Beyond the monthly payment, a realistic car budget should include: insurance (get a real quote before you commit to any vehicle), fuel cost based on your actual annual mileage and the vehicle's EPA rating, scheduled maintenance (oil changes, tire rotations, brake service), registration and annual fees (NJ charges annual registration fees that vary by vehicle weight and value), and in the case of a lease, gap coverage and any required excess wear insurance. First-time car owners often underestimate insurance by 40-60% because they get a quote for a different vehicle or do not factor in their specific driver profile and zip code.
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The Smart Buyer's Guide to Leasing vs. Buying in 2026
Discover:
✓ When to lease vs. buy
✓ Hidden fees to watch for
✓ Tax benefits for business owners
✓ Current manufacturer incentives
Smart move!
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600+ Testimonials
What Our Customers Say
People come for the number. They stay for how easy we make it.
David Wagoner was referred to me by a co-worker. All I can say is wow. We were under a tight timeline to purchase a vehicle, and from our initial interaction late Thursday afternoon through the delivery of our vehicle Monday afternoon, David and Vantage Auto Group were transparent, quick, and provided excellent customer service throughout! Strongly recommend!
David Wagoner was referred to me by a co-worker. All I can say is wow. We were under a tight timeline to purchase a vehicle, and from our initial interaction late Thursday afternoon through the delivery of our vehicle Monday afternoon, David and Vantage Auto Group were transparent, quick, and provided excellent customer service throughout! Strongly recommend!
Craig K
David Goldstein and his team are great. He was always available and responsive whenever I voiced a concern. He was quick to answer questions, which was extremely helpful it making decisions as I did not need to wait long to connect with him. I highly recommend connecting with David the next time you are looking for a vehicle!
David Goldstein and his team are great. He was always available and responsive whenever I voiced a concern. He was quick to answer questions, which was extremely helpful it making decisions as I did not need to wait long to connect with him. I highly recommend connecting with David the next time you are looking for a vehicle!
Joseph Bestreich
The entire process from start to finish was handled with class
The entire process from start to finish was handled with class
Donald Blaine
A+ across the board, David and his team are professional, upfront, and offer a service that is unmatched when buying a car.Highly recommended!
A+ across the board, David and his team are professional, upfront, and offer a service that is unmatched when buying a car.Highly recommended!
Alex Scarlett
Great customer service! Dave was very responsive and worked hard to find the car we were looking for. His pricing was unbeatable and the vehicle was delivered right to our driveway. There was a small issue with the vehicle from the manufacturer, but Dave and his team have been working hard to rectify it. Goes to show their service doesn’t disappear after delivery, and are committed to developing relationships and making longterm customers.
Great customer service! Dave was very responsive and worked hard to find the car we were looking for. His pricing was unbeatable and the vehicle was delivered right to our driveway. There was a small issue with the vehicle from the manufacturer, but Dave and his team have been working hard to rectify it. Goes to show their service doesn’t disappear after delivery, and are committed to developing relationships and making longterm customers.
Eric A
All the hassles & time consumption in buying a new vehicle were nil, because Vantage Auto Group took care of everything & delivered the vehicle I wanted
All the hassles & time consumption in buying a new vehicle were nil, because Vantage Auto Group took care of everything & delivered the vehicle I wanted
Robert Murphy
My wife and I recently moved from the city and needed a car but didn’t know where to start. At first we tried online, but it was honestly a little overwhelming. I reached out to a local friend for leads, and he pointed me to Vantage. I hopped on a call with Sean after work and gave him a rough outline for what we were looking for. I’m not a car guy, so it was basically: “I need something safe, reliable, and not falling apart.” Sean very much IS a car guy, and he took it from there. After going over our budget, he recommended a couple options, as well as compelling reasons to lease instead of buying used as we had planned. The next morning we went back and forth via text to hash out the details, and then that afternoon a beautiful brand new car within our budget rolled into our driveway. I signed some paperwork with his team, and that was that. Literally less than 24 hours after the initial phone call, I was all set. It was easier than 99% of all my other projects that go into moving to the burbs. The whole experience was extremely communicative and chill. And on top of everything else…I straight up love this car. I fear I’m a car guy now. Thanks, Vantage.
My wife and I recently moved from the city and needed a car but didn’t know where to start. At first we tried online, but it was honestly a little overwhelming. I reached out to a local friend for leads, and he pointed me to Vantage. I hopped on a call with Sean after work and gave him a rough outline for what we were looking for. I’m not a car guy, so it was basically: “I need something safe, reliable, and not falling apart.” Sean very much IS a car guy, and he took it from there. After going over our budget, he recommended a couple options, as well as compelling reasons to lease instead of buying used as we had planned. The next morning we went back and forth via text to hash out the details, and then that afternoon a beautiful brand new car within our budget rolled into our driveway. I signed some paperwork with his team, and that was that. Literally less than 24 hours after the initial phone call, I was all set. It was easier than 99% of all my other projects that go into moving to the burbs. The whole experience was extremely communicative and chill. And on top of everything else…I straight up love this car. I fear I’m a car guy now. Thanks, Vantage.
Stephen Gumbrecht
I had a great experience with Vantage. From start to finish the process was seamless and quick. My salesperson Mark Viegas was great and very professional. I would recommend him and Vantage to anyone looking to by a new car.
I had a great experience with Vantage. From start to finish the process was seamless and quick. My salesperson Mark Viegas was great and very professional. I would recommend him and Vantage to anyone looking to by a new car.
Brian Dorst
I'm very happy to have chosen Vantage AutoGroup..made my buying experience very easy.met my expectations..thank you Omar and the rest of the team.
I'm very happy to have chosen Vantage AutoGroup..made my buying experience very easy.met my expectations..thank you Omar and the rest of the team.
jose cruz