How many miles per year is too much for a leased commuter car?

Most standard leases include 10,000-12,000 miles per year. If your commute alone puts you at 15,000-20,000 miles annually, you will likely need a high-mileage lease allowance, which raises your monthly payment but avoids costly per-mile overage charges at lease end. As a general rule, calculate your expected annual mileage honestly before signing any lease. Overage penalties typically run $0.15-$0.25 per mile, which adds up quickly on a long commute.