Car Lease vs. Buy Calculator

Compare full lease charges with the net cost of buying after accounting for ending equity.

Lower modeled cost

lease

Difference $1,323.

Total lease cost$22,700

Buy monthly payment$735

Buy remaining balance$16,576

Buyer ending net equity$7,424

Net buy cost$24,023

Excludes insurance, maintenance, taxes not entered, opportunity cost, and uncertain resale value. Lease mileage and wear charges require contract-specific estimates.

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Planning guide

Read the complete guide →

Understand this estimate before using it

Quick answer

What does the Lease vs. Buy Calculator do?

Compare full lease cost with net ownership cost and ending equity. It compares acquisition, monthly, mileage, disposition, ownership, financing, resale, and equity cash flows over the same period.

Formula and calculation method

It compares acquisition, monthly, mileage, disposition, ownership, financing, resale, and equity cash flows over the same period.

The result is only as reliable as the inputs. Use current balances, rates, fees, dates, and documents; then change uncertain assumptions to see whether the conclusion remains stable.

How to interpret the result

Treat the output as a comparison or planning range, not a quote, approval, eligibility decision, tax return, or prediction. Review the breakdown—not only its headline number—and read every stated exclusion.

For current background, review CFPB auto-loan resources. Product documents and official program tools control when they differ from this educational model.

Worked scenario

Put the result in context

For a $30,000 vehicle with $2,000 of tax and fees, a $5,000 down payment, and no trade balance, begin with $27,000 financed. Then add insurance, fuel, maintenance, and registration to evaluate the all-in budget.

This scenario illustrates the method; it is not a quote, forecast, recommendation, or substitute for entering your actual facts.

Before you calculate

Gather current information before changing the defaults. A result based on verified records is more useful than a precise answer built from guesses.

the vehicle price and the comparison window

Check the date, unit, and source of this input before entering it.

the lease payment, amounts due, fees and wear charges

Check the date, unit, and source of this input before entering it.

the buy down payment, rate, term and taxes

Check the date, unit, and source of this input before entering it.

the vehicle's estimated value at the end of the window

Check the date, unit, and source of this input before entering it.

What the result can answer

It can show how the entered assumptions interact, provide a consistent comparison, and reveal whether changing one important input materially changes the estimate.

What the result cannot decide

It cannot confirm approval, eligibility, market pricing, future performance, legal or tax treatment, contract quality, or whether the choice fits every part of your finances.

A practical next-step workflow

01 · Verify
Compare the inputs with current statements, quotes, official rules, and product documents.
02 · Stress-test
Run a second case with a less favorable value for the vehicle's estimated value at the end of the window.
03 · Confirm
Test a realistic range of end-of-period values before trusting the winner, and factor in mileage limits and how long you actually keep cars before acting.

Frequently asked questions

Should I shop by monthly payment?

No. Negotiate price and financing separately, then compare amount financed, APR, term, fees, and total cost.

Does lease versus buy include every charge?

Only the values entered. Obtain the lease disclosure and purchase quotes because mileage, disposition, wear, tax, and acquisition rules vary.

What can make this estimate differ from an actual result?

Timing, rounding, rate changes, fees, taxes, eligibility rules, product conventions, and facts not requested by this focused calculator can all create differences.

Which inputs deserve a second scenario?

Retest any input that is quoted rather than fixed, depends on future behavior, or materially changes the result. Conservative and optimistic cases reveal more than false precision.

What should I verify before making a decision?

Verify current statements, disclosures, official rules, taxes, fees, cancellation or prepayment terms, and the consequences of a less favorable outcome.

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Prepared by Loan Lyze Editorial and reviewed under the Loan Lyze editorial framework on November 8, 2026. Educational estimate only. See our methodology, editorial policy, and corrections policy.

Car Lease vs. Buy Calculator

Compare lease and ownership cost