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Lease vs. Buy Calculator

Compare leasing with buying the same vehicle using cash, financing, or both. See estimated total costs over your selected ownership period.

Before calculating: Review all fields. Any prefilled numbers or default selections are starting examples, not verified personal details; update them to match your situation. Complete any fields left blank.

Vehicle information

Use the same vehicle price and comparison period for each option.

Vehicle year optional

Make optional

Model optional

Trim optional

Vehicle price ($)

Vehicle sales tax (%)

Enter the applicable vehicle registration-area tax rate. This rate is used for purchase options and, when needed, the lease estimate.

Look up tax by ZIP code ↗

ZIP code optional

Enter a ZIP code to search official vehicle sales-tax information. Verify the rate and enter it above; CalcResults will not fill it automatically.

Comparison period

＋ Trade-in (optional)

Trade-in vehicle year

Trade-in make

Trade-in model

Trade-in trim optional

Estimated trade-in value ($)

Current loan payoff ($)

Enter 0 if the vehicle is paid off.

What would you like to compare?

Choose a direct comparison. The calculator shows only the relevant cost fields.

Comparison options

Lease details

Use numbers from the lease quote whenever possible.

Monthly lease payment ($)

Lease contract term

Monthly lease payment already includes applicable tax

Leave checked if the quoted monthly payment already includes tax. If unchecked, the Vehicle sales tax (%) rate above is added to the lease payment for this comparison. Use the same registration-area rate for a like-for-like estimate; actual lease tax treatment can vary, so check the quote.

Total due at signing ($)

Additional lease fees ($)

End-of-lease charges ($)

Excess mileage / wear charges ($)

When the comparison period exceeds the lease term, the estimate assumes a similar replacement lease and payment for the remaining months. This is a scenario, not a lease offer.

Cash purchase details

Enter fees you expect to pay in addition to the vehicle price and sales tax.

Dealer, documentation, title and registration fees ($)

＋ Add optional cash-purchase extras

Extended warranty ($)

GAP / protection products ($)

Other add-ons or fees ($)

Financing details

Monthly payment and remaining balance are calculated from your loan terms.

Down payment ($)

APR (%)

Loan term

Dealer & doc fees ($)

Dealer fees

The sales-tax estimate above is applied to the vehicle price. Trade-in tax credits and state-specific tax rules are not modeled.

＋ Warranty, GAP, maintenance plan & other add-ons

Extended warranty ($)

Warranty payment

GAP insurance ($)

GAP payment

Maintenance plan ($)

Maintenance payment

Other add-ons ($)

Other add-on payment

Enter only costs not already included in the quoted vehicle price or dealer fees. Each item is counted either in the loan or as an upfront cost—not both.

Ownership costs & resale

These costs apply to buying. Lease return charges are entered above.

Maintenance & repairs / year ($)

Other yearly costs ($) optional

＋ Estimate resale value at the end of your comparison

How would you like to set resale value?

Assumed annual depreciation (%)

Opens a market-value search using the vehicle details above. Review the result and use the manual option to enter your own estimate.

Estimated resale value will appear after calculation.

YOUR COMPARISON

What each option may cost

All options use the same comparison period. Purchase options subtract estimated resale value.

Ready to compare

Enter your vehicle details

Choose your options, then calculate to see totals and assumptions.

How the Lease vs. Buy Calculator works

Compare a lease with buying the same vehicle using cash or an auto loan. Pick Lease vs. Cash, Lease vs. Finance, Lease vs. Cash vs. Finance, or Buy Only (Cash vs. Finance). The form reveals only the sections that apply.

What the calculation includes

The lease estimate uses monthly payments, total due at signing, additional contract fees, estimated return charges and any entered mileage or wear charges. Buying with cash uses vehicle price, estimated sales tax, fees, selected add-ons, maintenance and other ownership costs. Financing uses down payment, APR, loan term, financing fees and add-ons with their chosen payment treatment, scheduled payments over the comparison period, and any remaining loan balance.

Resale value assumptions

Resale value can be estimated using the entered depreciation rate, entered manually, or researched using the vehicle lookup link. The automated depreciation option is a planning assumption, not a market valuation. Actual resale value depends on mileage, condition, title, trim and local demand.

What this calculator does not assume

It does not automatically retrieve dealer quotes, insurance premiums, fuel costs or a guaranteed future resale price. Sales tax is a simple estimate on the vehicle price; trade-in tax credits and state-specific lease/purchase tax rules are not modeled. Use actual contracts and local tax rules for a precise quote.

Frequently asked questions

What is included in “total due at signing”?

Enter the full amount due when signing the lease, including any taxes and fees already on the quote. Do not re-enter the same fees below.

What if the comparison period is longer than the lease term?

The calculator assumes you start a similar follow-on lease for the remaining period. Future lease terms, payments and fees may change, so the result is a scenario.

Does the calculator include the remaining balance on a car loan?

Yes. If the selected comparison period ends before the loan is paid off, the outstanding balance is included in the financing scenario.

Is the result financial advice?

No. It is an estimate based on the entries and assumptions shown. Compare actual offers and consider your own situation.