Lease vs Buy Car Calculator
Compare total cost of leasing and buying over your chosen timeline with mileage fees, tax impact, and resale value.
🚗 Purchase Inputs
📝 Lease Inputs
⚙️ Comparison Settings
How this Lease vs Buy Calculator Works
The calculator compares cumulative lease and buy costs over your chosen horizon. It includes financing costs, sales tax assumptions, lease due-at-signing, mileage overage fees, and expected resale value to estimate your net buy cost.
Related tools: Auto Loan Calculator · Gas Mileage Calculator · Expense Tracker · Lease vs Buy Guide
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it usually cheaper to lease or buy a car?
Leasing can be cheaper for short timelines and lower mileage drivers, while buying often becomes cheaper if you keep the car longer and preserve resale value.
How does mileage affect lease cost?
If you drive over the annual lease allowance, excess mileage fees can significantly increase your lease total cost.
What counts in buy cost?
Buy cost includes down payment, sales tax, financed payments, maintenance/insurance estimate, then subtracts projected resale value at your selected horizon.
What is break-even duration?
Break-even duration is the month where cumulative buy cost first matches or undercuts cumulative lease cost.
Can I use this for used cars?
Yes. Enter your actual purchase price, financing terms, and realistic future resale value for a used vehicle scenario.
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