Calculate Your Own Car Lease Payment

Edmunds.com

Calculate Your Own Car Lease Payment

There are several ways to estimate your car lease payment, including setting up a spreadsheet to do the work for you.

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dpp2049

Thanks for all the information about leasing. It help me understand about leasing and learn what i have been doing wrong all this time.

96jagman

I used this formula on a new VOLT and my Total Payment came to $686/mo.

But the dealer offers $320/mo x 36 mo w/ $2500 down. With what looks like a 62% residual value.

What gives?

a1s1a1

Can you clarify how does miles/year which takes into consideration "how much of car's value you will use" affects the above calculation

a1s1a1

Can you clarify how does miles/year which takes into consideration "how much of car's value you will use" affects the above calculation

baylis

Gentlemen/Ladies -- Why, in lines 9 - 11 of the calculation, are the net capitalized cost (20,000) and the residual (13,110) added to produce 33,110? What is the concept of applying the money factor to that large number? Can you explain a bit further, please?

Expressed another way, if a simple amortization calculation is made (on an HP 12C calculator) using 36 months, 3% interest and a monthly payment of $232.77 (i.e. the 191.39 for the depreciation + the 41.38 for the interest), the present value being financed is $8,004, which is not the same as the $6,890 depreciation in your line 6. Why is there that difference? Apparently the financing is based on more than just the depreciation?

So where am I going wrong? What am I missing in the explanation?

Maybe this is "just the way they do it" but it would help to understand the concept/rationale better.

Thanks very much.
Baylis

picksteve

Hi Philip. Thank you for the article. I have a question, that I hope you can answer. If one was to pay the lease payments upfront ($6890), would that reduce the amount that was subject to interest payments by $6890?

So, in the case above, the amount multiplied by the money factor would be $26,220. Does this work?

qualityoflife

Never Again Will A Dealership Profit From My Auto-Ignorance!

itscraigdude

I'm looking at a Jett Sportwagen TDI. The dealer gave me a residual value of 70% (seems pretty high by consensus). Using this formula with their money factor of 0.00049, I came to a monthly payment, tax included, of just under $250.00/mo for 36 months. Earlier in negotiations he quoted me $338/mo. Is he trying to pull a fast one on me?

remag1234

Several friends are leasing some for the 3rd time. Here's what they're getting. No money down, payments $250-325 a month for 36 months. Quick calculation is the payments equal to Half the price of the purchase price. I realize there are many variables but I believe it's a good rule of thumb.

schnazola1

@baylis: I was thinking the same thing. If the residual value were, say, 90% of the MSRP, then lines 11, 12, and 13 would be higher and produce a larger monthly lease payment. (Line #8 would be smaller, of course -- much smaller -- but you get the point.)

"Gentlemen/Ladies -- Why, in lines 9 - 11 of the calculation, are the net capitalized cost (20,000) and the residual (13,110) added to produce 33,110? What is the concept of applying the money factor to that large number?"

kyfdx

schnazola1 said:

@baylis: I was thinking the same thing. If the residual value were, say, 90% of the MSRP, then lines 11, 12, and 13 would be higher and produce a larger monthly lease payment. (Line #8 would be smaller, of course -- much smaller -- but you get the point.)

"Gentlemen/Ladies -- Why, in lines 9 - 11 of the calculation, are the net capitalized cost (20,000) and the residual (13,110) added to produce 33,110? What is the concept of applying the money factor to that large number?"

The two numbers are added, because the amount subject to finance charges is an average of those two numbers...

You don't have to divide by 2 to get the averages, because that part of the calculation is accounted for in the money factor.

ws1

kyfdx said:

schnazola1 said:

@baylis: I was thinking the same thing. If the residual value were, say, 90% of the MSRP, then lines 11, 12, and 13 would be higher and produce a larger monthly lease payment. (Line #8 would be smaller, of course -- much smaller -- but you get the point.)

"Gentlemen/Ladies -- Why, in lines 9 - 11 of the calculation, are the net capitalized cost (20,000) and the residual (13,110) added to produce 33,110? What is the concept of applying the money factor to that large number?"

The two numbers are added, because the amount subject to finance charges is an average of those two numbers...

You don't have to divide by 2 to get the averages, because that part of the calculation is accounted for in the money factor.

But how are you paying interest on an amount that is greater than what you are borrowing, if the true borrowed amount is basically the sales price of the car. I always thought the true "in the math mechanics" were something like an interest only loan for the residual and a normal amortizing loan for the depreciation?

kyfdx

ws1 said:

kyfdx said:

schnazola1 said:

@baylis: I was thinking the same thing. If the residual value were, say, 90% of the MSRP, then lines 11, 12, and 13 would be higher and produce a larger monthly lease payment. (Line #8 would be smaller, of course -- much smaller -- but you get the point.)

"Gentlemen/Ladies -- Why, in lines 9 - 11 of the calculation, are the net capitalized cost (20,000) and the residual (13,110) added to produce 33,110? What is the concept of applying the money factor to that large number?"

The two numbers are added, because the amount subject to finance charges is an average of those two numbers...

You don't have to divide by 2 to get the averages, because that part of the calculation is accounted for in the money factor.

But how are you paying interest on an amount that is greater than what you are borrowing, if the true borrowed amount is basically the sales price of the car. I always thought the true "in the math mechanics" were something like an interest only loan for the residual and a normal amortizing loan for the depreciation?

You pay finance charges on an average of the net cap and the residual. To get an average, you add the two numbers together, then divide by 2. The division by 2 is accounted for already within the money factor.

ws1

kyfdx said:

ws1 said:

kyfdx said:

schnazola1 said:

@baylis: I was thinking the same thing. If the residual value were, say, 90% of the MSRP, then lines 11, 12, and 13 would be higher and produce a larger monthly lease payment. (Line #8 would be smaller, of course -- much smaller -- but you get the point.)

"Gentlemen/Ladies -- Why, in lines 9 - 11 of the calculation, are the net capitalized cost (20,000) and the residual (13,110) added to produce 33,110? What is the concept of applying the money factor to that large number?"

The two numbers are added, because the amount subject to finance charges is an average of those two numbers...

You don't have to divide by 2 to get the averages, because that part of the calculation is accounted for in the money factor.

But how are you paying interest on an amount that is greater than what you are borrowing, if the true borrowed amount is basically the sales price of the car. I always thought the true "in the math mechanics" were something like an interest only loan for the residual and a normal amortizing loan for the depreciation?

You pay finance charges on an average of the net cap and the residual. To get an average, you add the two numbers together, then divide by 2. The division by 2 is accounted for already within the money factor.

Ahhh. It's amazing the clever shortcuts we had to come up with before everyone had smartphones, the internet, or even excel.

leasevirgin143

Thanks so much for the info. I just had a question about amortizing freight & PDI over the term of the lease. How does the interest rate (or money factor) play into the monthly amount for freight & PDI?

kyfdx

leasevirgin143 said:

Thanks so much for the info. I just had a question about amortizing freight & PDI over the term of the lease. How does the interest rate (or money factor) play into the monthly amount for freight & PDI?

Freight and PDI aren't separate charges, no matter how the dealer plays with the numbers..

There is MSRP (that's the bottom line of the sticker, including destination)
And, there is the selling price...

flann2

Edmunds really provides a great service by providing this information. Thank you !!

overcharge2016

We started our search for two new lease cars and the calculated lease payment were within $5 dollars at all car dealers/makers except one: Subaru. Either there program is incorrect or they added some factor to charge extra. Each of the three Subaru dealers that we saw was off by a constant $76 per month in overcharging for Forester 2.5i touring.

Michaell

overcharge2016 said:

We started our search for two new lease cars and the calculated lease payment were within $5 dollars at all car dealers/makers except one: Subaru. Either there program is incorrect or they added some factor to charge extra. Each of the three Subaru dealers that we saw was off by a constant $76 per month in overcharging for Forester 2.5i touring.

Dealers are allowed to inflate the MF for more profit.

awarner01

I've never commented before but I've been following a lot. I just leased a 2016 Q5 2.0q. I feel like I got a good deal. The dealer provided great service. Sometimes on here it seems like a game to try to make sure that they make no money at all.

awarner01

They showed me the invoice and I paid $400 over. The money factor was .00042 more than what was listed here, so I assume they got a little there also. Thats ok, I know they have to keep the lights on. I feel like it was fair.

adamcar

awarner01 said:

They showed me the invoice and I paid $400 over. The money factor was .00042 more than what was listed here, so I assume they got a little there also. Thats ok, I know they have to keep the lights on. I feel like it was fair.

Most dealerships only make real money in the service department and selling used vehicles. New sales are not very profitable, in the grand scheme of things.

knight14

I used your above number that I plug in your lease simulator and I did not get the same number by far. Why?

Michaell

knight14 said:

I used your above number that I plug in your lease simulator and I did not get the same number by far. Why?

What numbers are you using?

What payment are you expecting to see?

knight14

I used the lease calculator (http://www.edmunds.com/calculators/car-lease.html) but I am confused with the Vehicle Sales Price, or Capitalized Cost. Does it correspond to line 4 here? If yes, where do you enter line 1?

knight14

I plug the number the dealer gave to me in three different software to compute the monthly amount and they gave me the same amount within $1. The dealer is $39 higher. Where can the difference come from?

kyfdx

knight14 said:

I plug the number the dealer gave to me in three different software to compute the monthly amount and they gave me the same amount within $1. The dealer is $39 higher. Where can the difference come from?

Sorry, I can't vouch for on-line calculators, and I can't see what you are inputting.

alexlee99

I have the same question as picksteve.
What if someone pays upfront? In this case, if someone pays $6,890 upfront, one doesn't need to consider the MF, right?
So it will be $6,890 + Tax? and no additional?

What would be the disadvantage of paying upfron?
Thank you

Michaell

alexlee99 said:

I have the same question as picksteve.
What if someone pays upfront? In this case, if someone pays $6,890 upfront, one doesn't need to consider the MF, right?
So it will be $6,890 + Tax? and no additional?

What would be the disadvantage of paying upfron?
Thank you

If you do a one-pay lease, there is still a money factor involved, but it is often discounted by the bank.

But, the calculations are the same, then summed for the entire lease term and paid up front.

alexlee99

Generally how much discount the bacnk can offer? any guess?
Thank you.

Michaell

alexlee99 said:

Generally how much discount the bacnk can offer? any guess?
Thank you.

It depends on the brand .. Audi discounts the MF by .00100 for 36 month leases, for example.

danisunsilk

Thank you for the great article. Few questions: for calculation of the residual value you using MSRP, correct? What about for calculation of depreciation?: What "negotiated price" mean?:the selling price, the total capitalization cost or the net capitalization cost? Here is for example my quote :
MSRP 38,188
Discount savings: -4,311
Vehicle sell:(38,188): 67%

Access595
Document Prep Fee: 700
License/title: 79
Acquisition fee: 700
Tax on collected Items ( no idea what this is?): 294.48
Down/cash cap reduction: -3,113.30
Rebate: -500
Net cap: 32,632.41
--------
Base payment 357.56
Monthly tax: 29.14
24 mo payment: 386.70
-----
Down/cash reduction: 3,113.30
1st payment: 386.70
Due on delivery: 3,500
----
Rate: 0.0011
Annual miles: 12,000
Residual% (38,188): 67%
Residual amount: 35,585.96
Tax:8.15%
This is a quote for 2016 Lexus NX200t, Las Vegas.

I would appreciate your feedback greatly! Thanks!

kyfdx

danisunsilk said:

Thank you for the great article. Few questions: for calculation of the residual value you using MSRP, correct? What about for calculation of depreciation?: What "negotiated price" mean?:the selling price, the total capitalization cost or the net capitalization cost? Here is for example my quote :
MSRP 38,188
Discount savings: -4,311
Vehicle sell:(38,188): 67%

Access595
Document Prep Fee: 700
License/title: 79
Acquisition fee: 700
Tax on collected Items ( no idea what this is?): 294.48
Down/cash cap reduction: -3,113.30
Rebate: -500
Net cap: 32,632.41
--------
Base payment 357.56
Monthly tax: 29.14
24 mo payment: 386.70
-----
Down/cash reduction: 3,113.30
1st payment: 386.70
Due on delivery: 3,500
----
Rate: 0.0011
Annual miles: 12,000
Residual% (38,188): 67%
Residual amount: 35,585.96
Tax:8.15%
This is a quote for 2016 Lexus NX200t, Las Vegas.

I would appreciate your feedback greatly! Thanks!

Tax on collected items, is tax on money paid upfront, since it won't be taxed in the monthly payment.
$595 for accessories? Do you know what that is for?
$700 doc prep fee? Seems excessive.

I calculate the same payment.
If you only paid the first payment at lease signing, the payment would be $525/mo. (the true monthly cost of the lease)

Have you thought about a little longer term? You could save some money.
The savings is actually higher, because you amortize your upfront money over more months.

27/12 payment: $366.35/mo. (66% residual)
36/12 payment: $358.07/mo. (60% residual)

plutodite

What's missing from these steps, as well as the Edmunds calculator, is sales tax on manufacturer to consumer lease incentives depending on zip code. I've always paid tax on cap cost reduction incentives in AZ, I understood the tax to be legitimate on leases but not on purchases.

kyfdx

plutodite said:

What's missing from these steps, as well as the Edmunds calculator, is sales tax on manufacturer to consumer lease incentives depending on zip code. I've always paid tax on cap cost reduction incentives in AZ, I understood the tax to be legitimate on leases but not on purchases.

In our experience, consumer rebates are almost always taxed, lease or buy.

The math on a purchase is different, and obscures that, somewhat.

camnquinn

hi there. i am about to lease my 3rd kia. my lease is up march 2017. i have a 2014 yellow kia soul + in excellent condition with only 12, 200 miles on it. I am wanting to know what exactly you recommend i do so i can get a great deal with no money down? my first time i put down some cash and a car. my second time i didn't put anything down but my price went up greatly and i would think i dont have to do that this time as again, i should have some equity with such low mileage? help

kyfdx

camnquinn said:

hi there. i am about to lease my 3rd kia. my lease is up march 2017. i have a 2014 yellow kia soul + in excellent condition with only 12, 200 miles on it. I am wanting to know what exactly you recommend i do so i can get a great deal with no money down? my first time i put down some cash and a car. my second time i didn't put anything down but my price went up greatly and i would think i dont have to do that this time as again, i should have some equity with such low mileage? help

To realize any equity, you are probably better off trading before the lease is up.
Step #1 is to find out if you actually have any equity.

Call Kia Finance for your payoff
Ask in this discussion for the value of your vehicle:
https://forums.edmunds.com/discussion/1212/general/x/real-world-trade-in-values#latest

kenny_h_

When you lease from a dealer in XYZ city or County, but you live in ABC, do you pay taxes based on where you leased your car, or where you live? Because that can make a big difference in expensive vehicle.
Thank you.

Michaell

kenny_h_ said:

When you lease from a dealer in XYZ city or County, but you live in ABC, do you pay taxes based on where you leased your car, or where you live? Because that can make a big difference in expensive vehicle.
Thank you.

The taxes are based on the address on the registration.

Mevans_2

Is the MF and Residual % based on the zip you live in or the zip you lease from. Say I live in KY but the deal is in FL.

Michaell

Mevans_2 said:

Is the MF and Residual % based on the zip you live in or the zip you lease from. Say I live in KY but the deal is in FL.

Generally, it's based on the dealer ZIP code.

But, it also depends on what brand you are interested in.

Mevans_2

The dealer can fudge MF, right? Can they fudge residual?

kyfdx

Mevans_2 said:

The dealer can fudge MF, right? Can they fudge residual?

Residuals cannot be altered.

Money factor depends on the make.

Mevans_2

GMC?

kyfdx

Mevans_2 said:

GMC?

Yes, GM dealers can markup the money factor, but it is not a common occurrence.

wmw

could you explain step 11: why is the base for the rent charge the sum of the adj cap cost and the residual value? Take the "simple" case of a car that doesn't lose value over the term of the lease, and no rebates, down payments, fees: then, the rent charge would be money factor x 2 x value of car - why is that the case?

kyfdx

wmw said:

could you explain step 11: why is the base for the rent charge the sum of the adj cap cost and the residual value? Take the "simple" case of a car that doesn't lose value over the term of the lease, and no rebates, down payments, fees: then, the rent charge would be money factor x 2 x value of car - why is that the case?

The idea is to get the average of the adjusted CAP and residual. Rather than add the two numbers, and divide by 2, the adjustment is made when calculating the money factor.

desal

The calculator is excellent BUT it does not have any ability to figure mutable security deposit. My last MB lease I used MSD and the financial guy messed it up. It took me many hours to find the mistake and as a result I got a $1836 refund from the dealer because the lease had been locked in and he could not rewrite it.

joemax714

Super helpful article. I found some challenges with calculating the exact monthly cost with Subaru. There was something missing in the way they calculated the finance cost, which they wouldn't share with me even after several attempts with different people. As far as I can tell, Subaru has a bit of a secret sauce in their finance change calculation which they don't make public. Is that legal?

kyfdx

joemax714 said:

Super helpful article. I found some challenges with calculating the exact monthly cost with Subaru. There was something missing in the way they calculated the finance cost, which they wouldn't share with me even after several attempts with different people. As far as I can tell, Subaru has a bit of a secret sauce in their finance change calculation which they don't make public. Is that legal?

It is likely they just marked up the money factor and didn't disclose it. In most states, they have to disclose the total finance (or Rent Charge), but they don't have to disclose the actual money factor.

It is all just math.