If you cannot afford to pay your car lease every month, then turning in your car lease early may be the only solution. You cannot outrun the termination fee whether you are doing it early or just before the end of the lease agreement period. That does not mean you will be on the losing side forever because swapping the lease can be a good option for you to end your car lease early. Perhaps you will like the early buyout option too, where you can buy the car for a specified price within the leasing period. However, returning your car to the dealer might sound expensive but if you are getting no positive response using other options, it is the safest exit.