Five decades after opening its doors, the nation’s largest consumer car leasing company continues to grow by simplifying the vehicle shopping experience, investing in people, and earning customer trust.
When D&M Leasing was founded in 1976, the idea was simple: leasing could be easier, more transparent, and more customer-focused. Fifty years later, that approach has helped the company become the nation’s largest direct-to-consumer car leasing company, serving customers across North Texas, Greater Houston, and Austin while maintaining a model built around convenience and long-term relationships.
The milestone arrives as D&M celebrates another distinction: 12 consecutive Cars.com Leasing Company of the Year awards, an honor determined by verified customer reviews. For D&M, the recognition reflects what has long driven the business, helping customers lease new and pre-owned cars, trucks, and SUVs without the stress commonly associated with vehicle shopping. “We’re grateful to have built a community of customers who trust us with one of the biggest financial decisions in their lives,” said Kelly Strausser, chief operating officer at D&M Leasing. “The Cars.com award confirms that trust is being earned. Our white-glove philosophy is a standard of excellence that we raise every single year.”
D&M’s direct-to-consumer model has been the company’s biggest differentiator from traditional dealerships and much of the broader automotive industry. Instead of asking customers to spend hours negotiating on a dealership lot, one consultant works with them from start to finish. That consultant helps identify the right vehicle, negotiates on the customer’s behalf, manages the trade-in, and coordinates delivery to the customer’s home or office.
The company’s proprietary EZ Lease program was also created with flexibility in mind. It uses simple interest, eliminates early termination fees, offers flexible terms, and includes 5,000 miles of mileage forgiveness. The program was designed around what customers wanted rather than requiring them to adapt to the traditional leasing experience.
D&M is also brand agnostic. Because the company is not tied to a single manufacturer, its consultants can recommend the vehicle that is genuinely the best fit for each customer, whether that means a car, truck or SUV from a domestic, Asian or European automaker.
That customer-first approach has produced measurable loyalty. Between 70 and 75 percent of D&M’s business comes from repeat customers and referrals, and the company has earned more than 35,000 five-star reviews. In 2025, D&M leased or sold more than 19,000 vehicles, a 5 percent increase from the prior year.
The company credits much of that consistency to leadership longevity and employee training. D&M’s consultants average more than 10 years with the company, with some employees reaching 40 years of tenure, in an automotive industry known for high turnover. Experienced consultants help customers understand leasing, compare options, and make decisions based on their needs rather than a single manufacturer’s inventory.
D&M’s growth has also been shaped by the leadership of Mike Hernandez, who eventually took full ownership of the company. Hernandez has long believed in the D&M model, and assuming full ownership reflects his confidence in the business and his commitment to its future. His leadership philosophy is grounded in honesty and transparency: Do great work. Take care of people. The opportunities will follow.
“The automotive industry has changed dramatically over the last 50 years, but we’ve always been in the relationship business,” Strausser said. “Our success has been built on trust and long-term relationships. As we look to the future, our focus remains on delivering the same level of service that keeps customers coming back year after year.”
Education remains central to the company’s mission. D&M leaders say many consumers still do not fully understand leasing, even as vehicle prices rise and longer-term financing becomes more common. Leasing penetration in Texas is about 20 percent today, and the company believes it should be closer to 70 or 80 percent.
By explaining when leasing can make financial sense, D&M positions itself not simply as a leasing provider but as an adviser helping customers navigate a changing market. That educational role has become increasingly important as vehicle prices continue to rise, more consumers finance vehicles over longer terms, and negative equity becomes more common.
Those trends, D&M leaders say, reinforce the value of leasing for many drivers. Rather than changing its approach, the company plans to continue helping consumers understand why leasing can be a smarter financial decision in the right circumstances. D&M is also watching the used vehicle market closely. With off-lease inventory expected to grow in 2026, the company sees significant opportunity for pre-owned leasing, an area where it already has experience and expects to become an even more important part of the business.
D&M has worked to deepen its role in the communities it serves. The company supports events and organizations focused on youth, education, and nonprofits, reflecting a belief that business success carries a responsibility to invest locally. That commitment became more visible after D&M moved its headquarters to Fort Worth in 2019. Moving the company’s home office was a strategic decision. Fort Worth is a community that values relationships and supports businesses that earn its trust, and D&M leaders saw significant opportunity in the market. “We wanted to become part of the community instead of simply operating nearby,” Strausser said. “Fort Worth has been a great place to grow our business, and we believe we’re still just getting started.”
The company says its customer base in the region aligns well with its approach. Drivers are looking for exceptional service, replacing increasingly expensive vehicles more frequently, and seeking a better alternative to the traditional dealership experience.
As D&M looks beyond its 50th year, the company’s priority is continuing to grow in the markets it already serves. Leaders see tremendous opportunity in Fort Worth, Dallas, and Houston, where many drivers have not yet experienced what they describe as leasing done the right way. Long-term, the company believes the D&M model can succeed well beyond Texas. Drivers everywhere want a better vehicle-shopping experience, and D&M sees education as central to expanding its reach. “Our approach hasn’t changed. We have to continue educating consumers about why leasing can be a smarter financial decision.”
The strategy remains grounded in the same principle that launched the company in 1976: make leasing easier, earn trust through service and build relationships that last. That is exactly what D&M has done. Its founders built a business around being on the customer’s side, and that idea is just as relevant today as it was in 1976.
