Deal readiness checklist
Answer eight quick questions to see if you have what you need to compare quotes confidently.
Educational estimate only. Real quotes depend on taxes, fees, acquisition/disposition charges, rebates, and how your state treats leases. Use your contract and broker numbers as the source of truth. Reading lease payments and the lease glossary explain the fields behind these calculators.
01
Do all quotes use the same lease term?
Comparing 36-month and 39-month payments skews totals.
02
Is the annual mileage allowance the same?
10k vs 12k miles changes payment and overage risk.
03
Do you have an itemized drive-off / signing sheet?
First payment, acquisition, doc, tax, and cap reduction should be separate lines.
04
Is the money factor (or APR equivalent) disclosed?
Without MF you cannot verify the rent charge portion.
05
Is residual value or percentage shown?
Residual drives depreciation—the largest part of most payments.
06
Are acquisition and doc fees listed separately from cap cost?
Bundled fees make it harder to compare brokers.
07
Did you calculate total cost (drive-off + all payments)?
Low monthly with huge drive-off often loses on total cash outlay.
08
Will you confirm availability with the broker before visiting?
Ads expire; programs change daily.
Worked example
Pre-signing checklist on a 2026 Mercedes EQE quote
- ✓ MSRP matches window sticker
- $74,900
- ✓ Selling price (cap cost) matches advertised
- $67,500
- ✓ Money factor matches captive program
- 0.00220
- ✓ Residual matches program book
- 58% / $43,442
- ✓ Term and mileage match expectations
- 36 / 10k
- ✗ Doc fee is $895 vs $595 quoted
- Push back
- ✗ Tire-and-wheel add-on rolled in
- Remove or walk
Most surprises live in cap cost adds and doc fees. Walk through every line of the lease worksheet.
Deal checklist FAQ
Common questions about this calculator. For broader leasing topics, see the full FAQ.
MSRP, selling price, residual percentage, money factor, term, mileage, drive-off itemization, and any add-ons or fees. The checklist walks each line item so nothing surprises you on the signing sheet.
Add-ons rolled into cap cost: paint protection, tire-and-wheel, GAP, extended warranty. Each adds $400-$1,500 to cap cost and inflates every payment. Decline at signing unless you want them.
If selling price differs from the advertised cap cost, if money factor is marked up over the lender program, or if add-ons can't be removed. Multiple brokers usually carry the same program — there's almost always a better path.