Buying vs Leasing vs Paying Cash For a Car: The Reality in 2026
The Table with Anthony ONeal
The Neatness Network
4.8 • 2.1K Ratings
🗓️ 18 March 2026
⏱️ 26 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Are car payments just a part of life? In 2026, the average new car payment is $750–$770 a month—and most people are stuck in a cycle that steals their wealth. In this video, Anthony O’Neal breaks down the real math behind buying, leasing, and paying cash for your next car. You’ll see the hidden costs, the traps, and the steps to real financial freedom. Drop your car fund goal in the comments and let’s build wealth together!
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ABOUT ANTHONY ONEAL:
Anthony O'Neal is a nationally bestselling author, speaker, and host of The Table with Anthony O'Neal. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance & Banking and is a professor of Consumer Economics at Virginia Union University. Since 2014, he's helped millions of people get out of debt, build wealth, and break generational poverty. His mission is to help you maximize your income, eliminate debt, and create a life of freedom and legacy.
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⚠️ GENERAL DISCLAIMER
This content is for educational and entertainment purposes only. I am not a licensed financial advisor. Please do your own research and consult a certified professional before making financial decisions.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Most people think that a car payment is just a part of life. |
| 0:03.8 | But what if I told you that $750 a month every single month for almost six years is one of the key things that could be still in your future, your wealth, right? |
| 0:13.2 | And what if I told you that there is honestly a better way, one that actually builds wealth and freedom for you and your family. And watch this, it can eventually |
| 0:23.3 | get you to where you're buying your dream car. Well, today, today on this episode, I am going to be |
| 0:28.9 | breaking down the real numbers behind buying leasing and paying cash for your next car. I'm not here, |
| 0:35.8 | honestly, to sell you a dream. I'm here to show you the facts, |
| 0:39.7 | the traps, and the steps to real, true financial freedom. By the end of today's episode, |
| 0:45.7 | you know exactly which option is going to be best for you, for your money, for your peace, |
| 0:51.5 | for your legacy, and ultimately just for your wallet. So I really want |
| 0:55.9 | you to dial in and really rock out with me. But I want to set the stage from the very, very |
| 1:00.9 | beginning. You see, this year in year of 2026, the average new car payment is roughly about |
| 1:06.6 | $750, about $770 a month. That is honestly the truth of where we are. But for used cars, |
| 1:14.4 | it's about $500 to $580 a month. And if you're leasing, check this out. You're still looking at about |
| 1:21.5 | $660 a month on average. Now, here is the kicker, right? 20% of new car loans are now over $1,000 a month. |
| 1:38.1 | Depending on where you are, that is someone's mortgage payment. Do you understand what I'm saying? Like, $1,000 a month, that is someone's mortgage payment. |
| 1:45.6 | Do you understand what I'm saying? |
| 1:48.6 | Like, $1,000 a month, that is someone's more. |
| 1:53.9 | As a matter of fact, that's close to my parents' mortgage payment right now in South Carolina. |
| 1:56.4 | But here's what no one is telling you. |
| 1:58.3 | Most people are financing. |
| 2:07.0 | About 80% I think, 80% of new cars are purchased with a loan, and 61% of Americans have at least one auto loan on their credit file. |
| 2:10.3 | So this isn't just normal, this is the system. |
... |
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