Drive-off decoder
Break signing sheet lines into first payment, acquisition, doc, tax, and cap reduction—then total due at signing.
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.
Estimated due at signing
$0.00
Negotiable lines total: $0.00
- Acquisition and doc fees are common negotiation targets.
- Tax treatment depends on your state—see the state tax estimator.
- Compare this total to the broker's signing sheet line-for-line.
Worked example
Signing sheet shows $4,500 due at signing — what's in it?
- First month's payment
- $549
- Acquisition fee
- $995Set by the lender, not the dealer
- Doc fee
- $595Broker doc fees vary $100-$700
- Registration & title
- $420
- State tax on DAS
- $291
- Cap cost reduction (cash down)
- $1,650Optional — can be removed
Remove the $1,650 cap reduction → DAS drops to $2,850 and monthly rises ~$46. Most pros prefer minimum DAS.
Drive-off decoder FAQ
Common questions about this calculator. For broader leasing topics, see the full FAQ.
First month's payment, acquisition fee ($500-$1,200), registration, doc fee ($100-$700+), tax (in some states), and any cap-cost reduction (cash down). The decoder maps each line to a category and flags anything unusual.
Doc fees vary widely — broker ranges are usually fixed but dealer doc fees can sometimes be negotiated. Acquisition fee is set by the lender. Cap reduction is optional cash you choose to put down.
If your goal is minimum out-of-pocket at signing and you're comfortable with a higher monthly, yes. Most lease experts recommend minimum DAS so you don't lose the cash if the car is totaled.