Atlanta-based car dealer Yusef Benallal often shares car buying and loan literacy tips on social media. This week, he posted about a problem many drivers currently face: extreme negative equity. Negative equity happens when someone owes more on a used car than it’s worth. Since they can’t afford to pay off the loan quickly, come up with a downpayment for a different car, or sell the financed vehicle for the loan balance, they’re stuck.

Benallal just shared several ways drivers might actually escape their bad car loans. Let’s take a look.

One option is to switch to a lease on a different car

This strategy is for folks with “decent” (good to excellent) credit. In addition, you’d need a bit of cash on hand to start the lease…think $1,500.

Say you have $10K, $15K, or even $25K in negative equity. To untangle yourself from the bad car loan, you might hunt around for new vehicle lease incentives. Benallal points out that certain automakers offer “motivating” lease incentives on their EVs. In turn, the “lease cash” may eat up nearly all of the negative equity on trade.

Once the lease is up and you return the vehicle, it’s done. No negative equity, or at worst, very little.

Of course, you need to be aware of lease terms and concepts if you plan on using one to escape negative equity.

If you have bad credit, your options are limited…but there’s still hope

Folks with a negative credit profile can ask the bank for a deferment or refinance using a trusted cosigner.

You could also try renting the car out on Turo to mitigate the payments. However, you’d need to check that your lienholder allows this.

Finally, you could just give the car back to the bank. Be aware that performing a voluntary repossession doesn’t absolve you from the loan. In fact, you’re still responsible for the loan. Typically, the lienholder sells the vehicle at auction and if there’s a balance, you’d be responsible for paying the difference. What’s more, any type of repossession dings your credit and remains on the record for seven years.

In any of these scenarios, escaping car loan negative equity isn’t painless. The best way to address bad loans is to avoid them altogether. Be sure you understand how much of a car payment you can comfortably afford. Research vehicles in that price range a pick the best fit for your personal needs.