Overview
AmeriTrust Financial has launched a fintech-driven platform to expand used-vehicle leasing to dealers nationwide. After operating in 28 states, the company is rolling out to the rest of the continental U.S. in the coming months. While leasing represents about 25% of new-vehicle transactions, it’s roughly 3% of used-vehicle financing. AmeriTrust positions itself as a rare player—and says it’s the only independent lender offering used-car leasing at a national level (company claim).
What the platform offers
- Dual-path financing: a single application returns decisions for both a retail loan and a lease within minutes, enabling side-by-side payment comparisons at the desk.
- Vehicle-agnostic support for virtually any make/model beyond certified pre-owned programs (company claim).
- Dealer portal that connects to real-time inventory and is available at no cost (company claim).
- Exact, contract-ready “penny-perfect” quotes based on live terms with toggles for term length, lease type, and credit tier (company claim).
- Back-office automation that pre-fills contracts, title applications, and state forms to reduce errors and speed funding.
Lease structures and target customers
The platform supports multiple lease structures, including options tailored to subprime customers. Certain plans include leases with no mileage or wear-and-tear penalties (company claim), aiming to broaden eligibility and reduce turn-in fee concerns.
Value proposition
- Lower monthly payments without stretching loan terms, which the company argues can help limit negative equity and default risks.
- More ways to structure deals, potentially moving more used inventory and helping dealers close payment-sensitive sales (company claim).
- Faster desking, fewer reworks, and cleaner funding through real-time quotes and automated paperwork.
Market context and open questions
- Used leasing lags due to limited OEM-certified programs and less predictable depreciation; AmeriTrust aims to decouple used leasing from OEM channels.
- Adoption may hinge on residual-setting, underwriting, and handling variability in mileage/condition while keeping payments competitive.
- Unknowns include the number of enrolled dealers and financing details; subprime performance will be key in affordability-focused markets (company claim).
Availability and rollout
The platform is live in 28 states and is slated to expand across the continental U.S. in the coming months, with the next phase focused on onboarding additional dealers and extending coverage.
