Someone accumulated 223,000 miles on a 3-year Toyota Camry lease and then returned it.

      Smart Toyota, The Drive

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      Exceeding your lease mileage is a common occurrence, and dealers anticipate it; that's why there are limits in place. Many of us end up paying hundreds or even thousands of dollars, typically at a quarter per mile. However, one 2023 Toyota Camry lessee in Wisconsin drastically underestimated their mileage, averaging 76,650 miles each year and returning the car with an odometer reading of 223,036 miles.

      A shout out to The Drive reader Jacob, who shared a link to the Camry at Smart Toyota of Madison, Wisconsin, currently priced at $15,000. Jacob mentioned he discovered the vehicle while browsing the dealership's pre-owned inventory. This Camry is an SE model, positioned as the second tier of the lineup, which would have cost at least $29,000 new, excluding any extras. Our intriguing mystery lessee apparently added about 215 miles to the vehicle each day.

      The CarFax tells a remarkable tale through its timeline. Just one month into the lease, the driver had clocked 5,400 miles. Astonishingly, only nine days later, they reached their 10,000-mile service mark. This Camry underwent an average of two services each month, leading one to expect considerable wear and tear upon its return to Smart Toyota. Yet, surprisingly, the only notable damage appears to be a scuff on the passenger side front bumper from a sideswipe incident around two months in.

      As Jacob pointed out, the driver’s seat appears to be in excellent condition. This raises the question of whether the lessee avoided snacks on their daily 200-mile trips, or if the Smart Toyota cleaning crew is exceptionally skilled.

      It might actually be a mix of both. A dealership representative informed The Drive that the previous owner utilized the car for Uber and Lyft. This explanation fits, although it suggests that they must have taken some long fares given the mileage.

      “Do you know how difficult it is to accrue that kind of mileage on an Uber vehicle?” Tony Thorstad, Smart Toyota’s Marketing Specialist, told us over the phone. “If you’re in Madison, Wisconsin, good luck trying to drive 100 miles a day because most trips are short. He must have been in a situation where he was taking longer Uber rides.”

      As for how things concluded, the customer essentially bought out the Camry and then sold it back to the dealer. Given the extensive use of the vehicle, the rideshare driver ended up with a reasonable deal.

      “After the lease, there’s a buyout at the end—no matter the mileage, the buyout remains the same. We offered him $3,000 less than the buyout price. He wrote a check for $3,000 and walked away.”

      We couldn’t obtain the exact buyout amount (that information is confidential), but this dealer accommodates leases up to 20,000 miles annually. Speculating, if each extra mile costs 25 cents and the lease allowed for a maximum of 60,000 miles over three years, this lessee might have faced penalties near $40,000 overall. While that figure seems daunting, buyouts provide an option, making it virtually necessary for the lessee to accept it. They could have even rolled it into another Camry, especially since this one served them so effectively.

      Have any interesting dealership or used car stories to share, whether from the buyer's or seller's perspective? Reach out to us at tips@thedrive.com.