Buy vs Lease in South Burlington, VT

Buy vs Lease in South Burlington, VT

Are you trying to decide whether to buy or lease your vehicle? These two methods of car ownership are often confused as the same thing. However, they are different, and the Heritage Toyota team explains their differences and benefits in this article.

Buying

Purchasing a new Toyota or any other brand from our dealership can be a simple process. All that's needed is for you to complete a Finance Application. Next, we'll evaluate your eligibility for a financing program. After you've been awarded a contract with one of our trusted lenders, you can start an auto loan, which has a repayment period between four to seven years. The finance route also offers available certified and pre-owned vehicles at our lot with similar duration options. Additionally, you’ll be able to carefully gauge the retail price of the vehicle you’re buying. In other words, you can determine how many months it takes to cover the total cost of the Toyota you desire before departing on a forever journey in the South Burlington area and beyond. 

Leasing

Drivers who like the idea of having a factory-fresh vehicle every two to four years should consider getting a lease. Like the finance contract, a leasing agreement allows you to make payments to keep a car in your possession. However, you won’t keep the vehicle for ownership. Instead, you’ll drive the model until the arrangement expires. To secure a lease, speak to our team at our Finance Department and ask about the lease program. You’ll need to complete a few essential queries and agree to the mileage limits. After that, one of our team members will hand over the keys to the new vehicle, and you’ll be ready to traverse roads like Kennedy Drive. As you come closer to the end of the contract, you’ll have various options, including switching to financing or upgrading your arrangement to more mileage limits and a different model.

Which Is Better? 

Now that you know the difference between these two routes to car ownership, you’re probably wondering which is better. The answer is that it depends on your situation. While leasing provides temporary ownership of a vehicle, it comes with less expensive monthly installments. Plus, you’ll have an opportunity to explore options like changing to a finance agreement after the lease expires. Buying a vehicle means you’re pursuing permanent ownership. Although payments are slightly more expensive than leasing, you’ll be able to use the car like cash. If you’re looking for a more economic alternative, you can always shop for a pre-owned car to reduce expenses. To get more information about buying and leasing, stop by our location on 1620 Shelburne Road for a consultation.

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Dealership Information

Testimonials

This dealership and sales lady Caroline were great, she

niblets58
DEALERRATER
3-8-2026
Full Star Full Star Full Star Full Star Full Star

This dealership and sales lady Caroline were great, she knew inventory each card features. There was no pressure, no demands for private info., just were here, would like to sell you a car your comfortable with. Considering I’m 88yrs old this all is important. DON’T PUSH A SALE!!!

I would highly recommend working with Colby to purchase a

Wpfaffvt
DEALERRATER
3-8-2026
Full Star Full Star Full Star Full Star Full Star

I would highly recommend working with Colby to purchase a vehicle. He’s genuinely a great and honest person that you can trust.

Trevor Kipp at Heritage Toyota provided an excellent

Brendan Cotter
DEALERRATER
3-7-2026
Full Star Full Star Full Star Full Star Full Star

Trevor Kipp at Heritage Toyota provided an excellent buying experience from start to finish. He was professional, knowledgeable, and easy to work with — no pressure, just straightforward answers and helpful guidance throughout the process. Trevor made the entire purchase smooth and efficient, and he took the time to make sure everything was handled properly. I really appreciated his responsiveness and attention to detail. Highly recommend working with Trevor if you’re looking for a great experience at Heritage Toyota.

Chad Mercure
Chad Mercure
GOOGLE
3-6-2026
Full Star Full Star Full Star Full Star Full Star

Such an easy decision working with this team.

jhartman93
DEALERRATER
3-6-2026
Full Star Full Star Full Star Full Star Full Star

Such an easy decision working with this team. Adam was great, very knowledgeable and professional. Happy with our purchase and would definitely come here again.

Fantastic sales and finance!

Mark Mullins
DEALERRATER
3-5-2026
Full Star Full Star Full Star Full Star Full Star

Fantastic sales and finance! Everyone friendly and knowledgeable without the pressure! Made some new friends.

Camden Benoit
Camden Benoit
GOOGLE
3-4-2026
Full Star Full Star Full Star Full Star Full Star

I went to Joe Mount looking for a new car, with little hopes of being approved due to not having much of a credit history. The process was extremely smooth sailing. Joe made sure to find the right car for me at the right price. With his Efforts, I walked away with a 2026 Toyota Corolla as a first time buyer. Also a huge thanks to Christine Donahue and Frankie Candido in finance for making sure I was happy with my payments and being easy to work with. I HIGHLY suggest going to Heritage Toyota for the purchase of a new Vehicle!

I went to Joe Mount looking for a new car, with little

Benoitcamden
DEALERRATER
3-4-2026
Full Star Full Star Full Star Full Star Full Star

I went to Joe Mount looking for a new car, with little hopes of being approved due to not having much of a credit history. The process was extremely smooth sailing. Joe made sure to find the right car for me at the right price. With his Efforts, I walked away with a 2026 Toyota Corolla as a first time buyer. Also a huge thanks to Christine Donahue and Frankie Candido in finance for making sure I was happy with my payments and being easy to work with. I HIGHLY suggest going to Heritage Toyota for the purchase of a new Vehicle!

Nate Trudes
Nate Trudes
GOOGLE
3-3-2026
Full Star Full Star Full Star Full Star Full Star

I purchased a truck from a supposed reputable used car salesman that completely broke down on me just 6 months into buying it, the place refused to help at all and basically said I was on my own, and the quotes I got for repairs were more than I owed for the truck itself, so I was in quite the predicament as I needed wheels to get to work, so with my spirits down and my guard up I reluctantly made my way over to Heritage to purchase my 2nd used car in 6 months. The moment I stepped in the door Joe Mount immediately popped up from his desk to greet me and asked how he could help. I took some time explaining my previous woes to him and made it clear that I just needed a reliable car to get to and from work that would last me years without any major repairs. Joe got right to work on checking their inventory for a good fit that matched what I was looking for, and not 10 minutes later we were test driving a nice Subaru. My credit wasn’t in the best spot so it was clear that getting me approved for a car that fit my needs was going to take some calling around and jumping through a few hoops. Joe and his team got right to it and no exaggeration they spent at least 8 hours calling around to different banks and seeing what they could do to make it work. As I was still on edge from my previous experience, I didn’t fully commit at first and even hinted that I probably wasn’t going to do it, and there wasn’t any sort of negativity from Joe or anyone else at heritage despite the fact they wasted their whole day on getting me approved. I slept on it for a day and after some thinking went back to complete the purchase. Joe and the finance people had to do a couple hours of paperwork AGAIN because of me and yet it was still all smiles and politeness from Joe and everyone else at heritage. Joe was extremely clear and transparent with all of the information, never did I feel they were “pulling a fast one on me” or anything of the sort. It was clear to me that Joe and everyone else I worked with genuinely cared about getting me into a good car that I could afford and that would last me. Extremely knowledgeable and nice staff (especially Joe), overall 11/10 service. Next time I need a car I know where I’ll be going, although that probably won’t be for some time as they sold me a good one! Thank you heritage for helping me get through that tricky time!

Colby made things happen for us and we are appreciative

Ehlandworksvt
DEALERRATER
3-3-2026
Full Star Full Star Full Star Full Star Full Star

Colby made things happen for us and we are appreciative for all his help and guidance. They were able to find the vehicle we wanted and was able to get a good trade in on our vehicle.

Adam was so great!

Meg26J
DEALERRATER
3-2-2026
Full Star Full Star Full Star Full Star Full Star

Adam was so great! I feel very lucky that I got him as my salesperson to make such a big decision. He knew my price range and what I was looking for and made it happen. He was very patient, positive and kind. I left feeling confident and excited in my decision and I have him to thank for that.

Lindsey and Patrick made my process of trading in and

kingtodd447
DEALERRATER
3-2-2026
Full Star Full Star Full Star Full Star Full Star

Lindsey and Patrick made my process of trading in and getting a new vehicle a breeze! They stood by through every step of the process and made me feel reassured in my period of wait at the dealer with my family. Highly recommend!

The dealership was clean and comfortable.

Julie.smith2008
DEALERRATER
3-2-2026
Full Star Full Star Full Star Full Star Full Star

The dealership was clean and comfortable. The people were all very pleasant and very friendly.

Tyber was amazing!

kathleen73
DEALERRATER
3-1-2026
Full Star Full Star Full Star Full Star Full Star

Tyber was amazing! He helped me meet my financial needs while ensuring I got the vehicle I wanted. I would 100% recommend working with him.

Todd King
Todd King
GOOGLE
2-28-2026
Full Star Full Star Full Star Full Star Full Star

This was a great experience! I worked with Lindsey and she helped me get into a new truck. Very kind and accommodating through the whole experience. I also worked with Patrick who was the same and made me confident that Heritage can help me with whatever I need!

Matthew Dintrone
Matthew Dintrone
GOOGLE
2-28-2026
Full Star Full Star Full Star Full Star Full Star

I had the easiest, most transparent, and lowest pressure experience I've ever had buying a car with Casey. Ask for him by name, can't recommend him enough!

Joe was very attentive and professional.

dncleblanc4
DEALERRATER
2-28-2026
Full Star Full Star Full Star Full Star Full Star

Joe was very attentive and professional. He was eager to seek out a vehicle that met our preferences and kept us updated consistently along the way as we were on a wait list for our desired Rav4. Due to my husbands disabled status it was going to be difficult for us to pick up our car on our own so Joe went out of his way to pick us up at our home to make it very convenient to get our new car and complete the transaction. He spent a great deal of time to educate us about the car to make sure that all of our questions were answered and that we were all set up to go. I highly recommend Joe and this dealership.

Lindsay Rockwood
Lindsay Rockwood
GOOGLE
2-27-2026
Full Star Full Star Full Star Full Star Full Star

Working with Joe was fantastic, he made the whole process easy, and was willing to work with me the best he could!

Joe was professional, listened to what was important to

lwvail
DEALERRATER
2-27-2026
Full Star Full Star Full Star Full Star Full Star

Joe was professional, listened to what was important to me, was courteous, friendly and appreciated my humor. In the end I got the best car to meet my needs at a price I was comfortable with.

Linda Vail
Linda Vail
GOOGLE
2-26-2026
Full Star Full Star Full Star Full Star Full Star

Joe was very professional, not pushy, but also took the time to make sure I got information on all my options and I drove off the lot with a lovely Camry.

Grace Austin
Grace Austin
GOOGLE
2-25-2026
Full Star Full Star Full Star Full Star Full Star

We had Brian as our salesmen he was amazing. My son is a first time buyer and he made the transaction so comfortable and easy for him. I have been a Toyota customer for 12 years love my Toyotas

william fisher
william fisher
GOOGLE
2-25-2026
Full Star Full Star Full Star Full Star Full Star

They are not pushy and really take care of you!

Mark McDowell
Mark McDowell
GOOGLE
2-21-2026
Full Star Full Star Full Star Full Star Full Star

Lindsey was very helpful throughout the process of

WJC
DEALERRATER
2-21-2026
Full Star Full Star Full Star Full Star Full Star

Lindsey was very helpful throughout the process of leasing my new Tacoma. She answered all of my questions and was very personable. Thank you Lindsey!

Brian was extremely pleasant non pushy, only thing I

Wescoranger
DEALERRATER
2-20-2026
Full Star Full Star Full Star Full Star Full Star

Brian was extremely pleasant non pushy, only thing I could add that would have made us happier is if it didnt take so long

I recently bought a RAV4 from Heritage Toyota and worked

jreilly1005
DEALERRATER
2-20-2026
Full Star Full Star Full Star Full Star Full Star

I recently bought a RAV4 from Heritage Toyota and worked with Lindsey Rendall. She was super knowledgeable and really helpful throughout the whole process. What I appreciated most was that she never pressured me — everything felt relaxed and easy. Lindsey was also genuinely fun to work with, which made the experience even better. She answered all my questions and made the whole thing smooth and stress-free. I’d definitely recommend asking for Lindsey if you’re shopping for a car!

After researching the sales staff, dealership & the car I

Deb
DEALERRATER
2-19-2026
Full Star Full Star Full Star Full Star Full Star

After researching the sales staff, dealership & the car I was interested in, I contacted Colby Mason and then set out to meet him after a few questions over the phone. It was a huge plus in my book to have Colby’s knowledge as he had transitioned into sales from being a technician. I knew which vehicle I wanted, but was unsure of the trim level. By the time I got there, he had each trim level available out front for me to look at & compare. Colby was welcoming, courteous, patient, professional & respectful. It was a great experience from start to finish. Any questions were answered with knowledge & encouragement to ask anything. Everything was clear & transparent. It was a pleasure to work with Colby from my initial phone call through the entire process of trading my car & purchasing my first Toyota. I left with my new vehicle while also feeling like I had a new friend. A shout out also to Sales Manager, Frankie & to Christine in Finance. These are great people here!

A different approach to selling cars, listen to the

joepye12
DEALERRATER
2-19-2026
Full Star Full Star Full Star Full Star Full Star

A different approach to selling cars, listen to the buyers needs and assist them with getting that car. Hats off to the Heritage Toyota’s sales paradigm shift

Denis
Denis
GOOGLE
2-18-2026
Full Star Full Star Full Star Full Star Full Star

Sales experience was top notch. Sales associate listened to my request and made the new buying process fun. Who doesn’t love a new Toyota.

Frank Coombs
Frank Coombs
GOOGLE
2-18-2026
Full Star Full Star Full Star Full Star Full Star

we brought our Highlander in for service yesterday. First impression. Very helpful employees. Everyone we came in contact with were professional and helpful. Clean and organized facility. inspection and service was very well documented. Would definitely recommend Heritage Toyota for service .

The experience was amazing.

erikajbrice
DEALERRATER
2-18-2026
Full Star Full Star Full Star Full Star Full Star

The experience was amazing. Adam was a pleasure to work with. So helpful and pleasant. Right from the moment we walked in. He greeted us immediately. His professionalism was appreciated. He never missed a beat. I would highly recommend him. The car is pretty great too.

Marly
Marly
GOOGLE
2-17-2026
Full Star Full Star Full Star Full Star Full Star

Joe C was great!

Erika B.
YELP
2-16-2026
Full Star Full Star Full Star Full Star Full Star

Joe was extremely welcoming and listened to what I wanted

Rachel M.
DEALERRATER
2-16-2026
Full Star Full Star Full Star Full Star Full Star

Joe was extremely welcoming and listened to what I wanted (and most importantly what I didn't want). I'm not someone who enjoys car shopping (especially because of the bad rep that car salespeople have) but after a really disappointing experience at another dealership, Joe and the folks at Heritage made what could have been a really bad day into a great one. Joe was friendly, didn't make me feel pressured at all, and got me on the road with an awesome car and the peace of mind that when I come back for service at the dealership, it'll be a good experience. Highly recommend, do not waste your time going to another place!

Kathleen Shiman
Kathleen Shiman
GOOGLE
2-15-2026
Full Star Full Star Full Star Full Star Full Star

Tyber was amazing! He helped me meet my financial needs while ensuring I got the vehicle I wanted. I would 100% recommend working with him.

Great overall experience, from start to finish.

Carla
DEALERRATER
2-14-2026
Full Star Full Star Full Star Full Star Full Star

Great overall experience, from start to finish. Adam was easy to work with and upfront and clear about process.

Alex Khalkhali
Alex Khalkhali
GOOGLE
2-12-2026
Full Star Full Star Full Star Full Star Full Star

Awesome experience, worked with Tyber Longacre. Wasn't pushy at all, and worked with us on our many requests. Walked out with a great deal and a great car.

I went to Heritage with an idea of what I wanted and how

miromao80
DEALERRATER
2-12-2026
Full Star Full Star Full Star Full Star Full Star

I went to Heritage with an idea of what I wanted and how much I wanted to pay. Joe showed me all the deals for what I was looking for and other deals. I ended up leaving with a much better car, because it had a better deal, and not far financially from what I planned. Him and Christine from finances was amazing to work with. Joe is professional and attentive.

Couldn’t be happier with my experience at heritage and am

Melissa
DEALERRATER
2-11-2026
Full Star Full Star Full Star Full Star Full Star

Couldn’t be happier with my experience at heritage and am so thankful for Trevor who made us feel welcome and comfortable. I would recommend if you’re looking at a Toyota you make this your first stop!

Stephen Cohen
Stephen Cohen
GOOGLE
2-10-2026
Full Star Full Star Full Star Full Star Full Star

I don’t love car shopping, but Joe was great to work with. Not pushy, helpful, and willing to work with us with through unusual circumstances. I think this is the 3rd or 4th car we’ve bought from Heritage and it’s always a good experience.

They were wonderful.

DEALERRATER
2-9-2026
Full Star Full Star Full Star Full Star Full Star

They were wonderful. Trevor was so nice and helped with everything I needed to know about my lease question. I would absolutely recommend they see him for there next new car!

Joe and the team at Heritage were great.

Katelynn P
DEALERRATER
2-9-2026
Full Star Full Star Full Star Full Star Full Star

Joe and the team at Heritage were great. The process was smooth and relatively easy. Joe was knowledgeable and got us all set up tech wise before leaving. Also appreciate their kindness and patience with us while trading off kid duties to get the process done.

I can't say enough about how good my experience was

fullzone2002
DEALERRATER
2-9-2026
Full Star Full Star Full Star Full Star Full Star

I can't say enough about how good my experience was leasing my new Tacoma at Heritage Toyota. Joe Mount was amazing to work with, I mentioned to him how much I didn't like the process of "vehicle shopping " and he completely changed my views on it. He was kind and helpful thevery step of the way. He got me into the perfect truck for me at a payment that works for me. I also had a great experience with Matt and Christine in finance and Lexi online. Wonderful experience all the way around. I'm very happy and will recommend highly. Thanks Joe!

Joe was fantastic!

Marisa
DEALERRATER
2-8-2026
Full Star Full Star Full Star Full Star Full Star

Joe was fantastic! Very knowledgeable, never pushy and goes above and beyond to make his customers experience as easy as possible. I’d send anyone his way looking for a new vehicle. I love mine and next time I’m looking I will absolutely be back to work with Joe!

They were very friendly as soon as I walked in the door

Connie P
DEALERRATER
3-2-2026
Full Star Full Star Full Star Full Star Empty Star

They were very friendly as soon as I walked in the door and also very busy so there was a bit of waiting around

Tyber made this process easy.

aclooch
DEALERRATER
3-2-2026
Full Star Full Star Full Star Full Star Empty Star

Tyber made this process easy. He helped me find exactly what I was looking for.

On 2/19, Jerry Berkowitz helped me purchase my 4th Toyota

MMD
DEALERRATER
2-21-2026
Full Star Full Star Full Star Full Star Empty Star

On 2/19, Jerry Berkowitz helped me purchase my 4th Toyota Tacoma. Back in 2005 I purchased my 1st Tacoma from Berlin City in NH. Wanting to keep my business local, I purchased my 2009 from Heritage. The process was ok, but took too long with a lot of back and forth. I attempted to buy my 2020 from Heritage but the sales staff was pretty indifferent; basically acting like they didn't want my business so I purchased from Berlin City in Portland Maine. For my 2026 purchase, I went to Heritage, and was greeted by Jerry. From the outset, he listened to what my particular needs were, even taking notes. Over the next couple of days, he and the dealership worked hard to match the price Berlin City was selling for, ultimately earning my business again. The actual transaction was relatively quick; I went over after work, and drove home in my new Tacoma by closing time. Nice job Jerry! You were pleasant to work with, and brought my business back to Vermont.

Deena Frankel
Deena Frankel
GOOGLE
3-1-2026
Full Star Full Star Full Star Empty Star Empty Star

Joe was great.

bjbear_05468
DEALERRATER
2-25-2026
Full Star Full Star Full Star Empty Star Empty Star

Joe was great. I didn't care for what they offered me for my trade in. I do feel a little bit like I didn't get the best deal I could have. But I took the deal anyway.

ariel keenan
ariel keenan
GOOGLE
2-10-2026
Full Star Empty Star Empty Star Empty Star Empty Star

I’ve had my rav 4 for 13 months. Out of 365 days Toyota has had my car for 221 days fixing MAJOR warranty things. We now are in our 6th rental and just went to our gas in and it’s not taking the gas and it the level for the gas gauge is broken plus no snow tires in Vermont where I have kids had they know my kids are in the vehicle….. I’m beyond frustrated, it’s problem after problem constantly.

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