Car Lease Calculator
Calculate your monthly lease payment and compare leasing vs buying. Our comprehensive calculator helps you understand all lease costs and identify great lease deals.
Lease Snapshot
Fix the highlighted inputs to see your lease numbers.
Monthly Payment
$
Due at Signing
$
months
mi/yr
Lease Terms
Lease Fees
Comparison Settings
End of Lease Info
Adjust the highlighted inputs to resume calculations.
Your Monthly Lease Payment
This calculator provides estimates. Always negotiate with dealers for the best terms.
Ready to Find Your Vehicle?
Browse our inventory of vehicles matching your budget and see real lease offers from dealers.
Payment Breakdown
Understanding how your monthly payment is calculated
| MSRP | $ |
| Negotiated Price | $ |
| Down Payment (Cap Reduction) | -$ |
| Adjusted Cap Cost | $ |
| Residual Value (%) | -$ |
| Depreciation | $ |
| └ Depreciation Fee (Monthly) | $ |
| Finance Fee (Monthly) | $ |
| Monthly Payment | $ |
How to Lower Your Payment:
- Negotiate $1,000 off sale price = ~$28/month savings
- Improve money factor by .00025 = ~$8/month savings
- Choose vehicle with 5% higher residual = ~$48/month savings
Due at Signing
| Down Payment | $ |
| First Month Payment | $ |
| Acquisition Fee | $ |
| Security Deposit | $ |
| Registration & Fees | $ |
| Total Due at Signing | $ |
Total Lease Cost
True Monthly Cost
$
Including upfront costs amortized
Monthly Budget Impact
Payment: $ + Insurance: ~$150 + Gas: ~$100 Total: ~$/mo
Get Real Dealer Quotes
Send your calculated lease terms to multiple dealers and get competing offers. Free, no obligation.
Tip: Print this calculation and bring it to dealerships for in-person negotiations
Monthly Cost Breakdown
Payment $ · Depreciation $ · Finance charge $
Chart will appear once calculated
Lease vs Buy Comparison
Compare your options over a 3-year period
| Cost Factor | Lease | Finance | Cash |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upfront Cost | $ | $ | $ |
| Monthly Payment | $ | $ | $0 |
| Total Payments (3 years) | $ | $ | $0 |
| Interest/Finance Charges | $ | $ | $0 |
| Value at 3 Years | $0 | $ | $ |
| Net Cost (3 years) | $ | $ | $ |
Lease Option
Finance Option
Cash Purchase
Best Financial Choice (3 years)
7-Year Cost Comparison
3-year totals · Lease $ · Finance $ · Cash $
Chart will appear once calculated
* Assumes leasing same vehicle every 3 years vs buying once
Break-Even Analysis
If you plan to keep the vehicle longer than months, buying is more economical.
Your End-of-Lease Options
Option 1: Buy the Vehicle
| Residual Value (Purchase Price) | $ |
| Current Market Value | $ |
| Disposition Fee (Waived) | -$ |
| Equity/Loss | $ |
Option 2: Return & Lease New
| Mileage Overage | miles |
| Overage Charges | $ |
| Wear & Tear | $ |
| Disposition Fee | $ |
| Total End-of-Lease Cost | $ |
New lease down payment needed: ~$
Option 3: Return & Walk Away
| Same as Option 2 | $ |
You'll need to purchase or lease another vehicle separately.
Our Recommendation
Mileage Overage Penalty Zones
Included miles: · Overage fee $/mile
Chart will appear once calculated
Lease Negotiation Strategy Guide
Master these tactics to get the best possible lease deal
NEGOTIABLE Sale Price (Cap Cost)
This is your #1 leverage point. Negotiate like you're buying the car.
- Target: 3-5% below MSRP minimum
- Strategy: Get quotes from 3+ dealers
- Timing: End of month/quarter = best deals
- Impact: Every $1,000 off = ~$28/month saved
NEGOTIABLE Money Factor
Dealers mark this up - always ask for the "buy rate"
- Good rate: .00150 or lower (3.6% APR)
- Ask: "What's the manufacturer buy rate?"
- Negotiate: Dealer markup down to zero
- Credit: 720+ score gets best rates
NON-NEGOTIABLE Residual Value
Set by manufacturer, but you can shop smart
- Look for: 55-60%+ residual values
- Best brands: Lexus, Toyota, Honda
- Avoid: Low-residual luxury (depreciate fast)
- Impact: 5% higher residual = ~$48/month saved
RISKY Down Payment
Minimize or avoid - you lose it if car is totaled
- Recommended: $0 - $2,000 maximum
- Instead: Negotiate lower sale price
- Or: Accept slightly higher monthly payment
- Insurance gap: Consider GAP insurance
📞 Multiple Dealers
Email 5+ dealers with your target payment. Let them compete. Save emails as proof.
📅 Perfect Timing
Lease on last 3 days of month/quarter. Salespeople need to hit quotas = better deals.
🚫 Avoid Add-Ons
Say NO to dealer add-ons (paint protection, gap insurance markup, extended warranties).
When discussing payment:
"I want to negotiate the selling price first, then we can discuss the lease structure. What's your best price on this vehicle?"
For money factor:
"What's the manufacturer's buy rate for my credit tier? I know the standard markup, so let's work with the base rate."
To close the deal:
"I have quotes from [Dealer X] at $[amount]. If you can beat that, I'll lease today."
Frequently Asked Questions
Leasing has lower monthly payments, but over 6+ years, buying is usually cheaper because you build equity. Lease if you want a new car every 3 years and drive under the mileage limit. Buy if you plan to keep the vehicle 6+ years or drive high mileage.
Money factor is the lease's interest rate in decimal form. To convert to APR, multiply by 2,400. For example, a money factor of .00150 equals 3.6% APR (.00150 × 2,400 = 3.6). A good money factor is .00150 or lower.
Minimize or avoid down payments on leases. If the car is totaled or stolen, your down payment is lost. Instead, negotiate a lower sale price or accept a slightly higher monthly payment. If you must put money down, keep it under $2,000.
You pay an overage fee, typically $0.15-$0.25 per mile over the limit. For example, if you go 5,000 miles over with a $0.20 fee, that's $1,000 due at lease end. If you know you'll exceed the limit, negotiate higher mileage upfront—it's cheaper than overage fees.
Buy if the market value is higher than the residual value (you have equity). Check KBB or Edmunds values. If your residual is $20,000 but the car is worth $23,000, buying and selling immediately nets you $3,000. If the residual is higher than market value, return the car.