United States · car-buying decisions
Should I buy, lease or finance this car?
A monthly payment can make a car look cheap while the total cost keeps growing. Compare cash, financing and leasing on the same price, horizon, maintenance and resale assumptions.
USD total-cost comparison Monthly payment and ownership cost 7 calculators inside
Your situation
Which route are you considering?
Pick the route you are most likely to use. The calculator keeps all three alternatives visible so you can compare the number that matters over the same horizon.
That's not my case
Fine-tune the estimate
Your car deal
Use one ownership horizon for every route. The lease inputs are only used in the lease case; the resale assumption is used for cash ownership.
Informational estimate. Dealer quotes, APR, taxes, lease residuals, mileage limits, insurance, fuel and repairs can change the result. Compare the written buyer’s order, financing disclosure or lease worksheet before signing.
How the total adds up
Total-cost breakdown
Compare payment, interest, maintenance and residual value over the same ownership horizon.
The bars make interest, lease cash and resale assumptions visible alongside the vehicle cost.
What if it changes?
Quick answer
What applies to you
What's included
Watch out for this
Deadline:
Frequently asked questions
Is leasing cheaper than buying?
It can have a lower monthly payment, but the answer depends on the lease cash due, term, mileage, fees, buyout and what happens after the lease ends.
Why is the monthly payment not enough?
A payment hides the term, down payment, interest, fees and final value. Two offers with the same payment can have very different total costs.
What does APR tell me?
APR combines the interest rate with certain finance charges and is useful for comparing loan offers. Also review the amount financed, term and total of payments.
Should I count resale value?
Yes for an ownership comparison. The car is an asset with a value you may recover, but resale depends on mileage, condition, market demand and timing.
Does the lease calculation include mileage fees?
Not automatically. Add expected mileage charges or other end-of-lease fees to the lease inputs or your separate budget.
What costs are excluded?
Insurance, fuel, parking, registration renewals, taxes not entered, repairs beyond maintenance and the opportunity cost of cash are excluded.
Is a long loan term a good idea?
It lowers the payment but usually increases interest and can leave the balance above the vehicle value for longer. Compare payoff balance and total payments.
When does paying cash make sense?
Cash avoids interest, but only after considering liquidity, emergency savings and what the money could otherwise do. A lower total cost is not worth losing financial flexibility.
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