Car Lease Buyout Calculator
Compare buying out your lease, keeping it to term, or returning it. See your equity position and which option costs least.
Lease Buyout Summary
Buyout likely wins
$2,500
Positive equity
Lease & Car Details
From your lease statement and market offers
Best current offer (dealer/online buyer)
Fees
From your lease contract
Typically $300–$500
Typically ~$300
Buyout likely wins
The car is worth $2,500 more than the payoff. Buying out — or buying and reselling — captures that equity; returning it hands the $2,500 to the lessor.
Compare your lease payoff to the car's market value. Market value above payoff by $2,000+ → buying out (or buying and reselling) likely wins. Market below payoff → returning at lease end usually costs less. Example: $18,000 payoff vs $20,500 market value = $2,500 equity; keeping the lease for 8 more months at $329/mo costs $2,632 plus a ~$400 disposition fee.
Key Facts
- Equity = current market value − payoff amount; it can be negative
- Returning the car always carries a disposition fee (typically $300–$500)
- Buying out usually adds a purchase-option fee (~$300) but skips the disposition fee
- Positive equity can be captured by buying out and reselling immediately
- Early buyout still owes remaining depreciation in most structures — the payoff number tells you the real cost
- Excess mileage and wear charges only apply if you return the car
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Frequently Asked Questions
Check equity first: market value minus payoff. Positive by $2,000+ → the buyout (or buy-and-resell) is usually the better financial move. Negative → return it and let the lessor absorb the loss. Between zero and $2,000, convenience and how much you like the car decide.
A disposition fee of $300–$500 charged by nearly every lessor, plus any excess-wear and over-mileage charges (commonly $0.15–$0.25/mile over). Buying out avoids disposition and mileage charges but typically adds a ~$300 purchase-option fee.
It is listed on your lease statement or the lessor's app under "buyout" or "payoff." Call to get the exact as-of-today number including taxes, title, and the purchase-option fee — the residual value in your contract is only the starting point.
Yes — with positive equity it is often the best move. Buy out the lease, then immediately sell to the highest dealer offer or a private buyer. Several states skip sales tax on the buyout when resold promptly; check yours.
No. An early payoff rolls remaining depreciation into the buyout number — the lessor does not discount it. Early buyout only helps if the market value has moved well above the payoff, or you simply want to own the car.
Equity = Market Value − PayoffHow this works
Calculations are run entirely in your browser. No inputs are sent to our servers and no account is required. Formulas follow standard US definitions from the IRS and the CFPB where applicable; international users should confirm local tax and regulatory rules apply.
What this tool can’t do
When to consult a professional
This is a software engineering tool, not financial advice. Run the math here, then take the result to a certified financial planner, CPA, or your bank before making a decision that materially affects your money.
Sources
- [1]Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)Official sourceconsumerfinance.govAccessed Apr 21, 2026
US consumer finance regulator; authoritative on mortgage disclosures, APR rules, credit cards.
Full-stack software engineer specializing in embedded systems, web architecture, and AI/ML. Founder of Practical Web Tools. Built the gesture-controlled drone IP acquired by KD Interactive (Aura Drone, sold on Amazon).
Lease Buyout Summary
Buyout likely wins
$2,500
Positive equity