Car leasing calculator: leasing or a loan

The leasing-vs-loan calculator compares the total financing cost of leasing and a bank loan. Quickly see which option is cheaper for your conditions and how fees affect the final price. The result is informational. Numbers use European format (e.g. 25.000 for twenty-five thousand, 6,50 for six point five).

Vehicle price (€) *

Down payment (€) *

Term (months) *

Advanced settings

Loan: interest rate (% per year)

Leasing: interest rate (% per year)

Loan: term (months) (optional)

Leasing: term (months) (optional)

Loan: arrangement fee (€)

Loan: monthly fees (€)

Leasing: arrangement fee (€)

Leasing: monthly fees (€)

Leasing: residual value at end (€)

If you buy the vehicle at the end (balloon payment), enter that amount here. Leave 0 if no buy-out.

Leasing vs. loan comparison result

Cheaper option (estimate) –

Bank loan

Monthly (with all fees)

–

Total

–

APR (estimate)

–

Leasing

Monthly (with all fees)

–

Total

–

APR (estimate)

–

Get bank's offer

Notes and limitations

Results are an informational estimate based on the entered assumptions. Leasing terms differ between providers (fees, mandatory insurance, residual value, early-repayment terms, etc.).

The calculator allows entry of some fees but not all (e.g. fully comprehensive insurance with vinculation, processing/maintenance/reminder fees, early-repayment fees, mandatory insurance like GAP, etc.). In practice leasing is often more expensive than the calculator shows.

APR for leasing is not officially defined under a single standard as it is for banks. The calculator estimates it from cash flows, which is reasonable but not directly comparable 1:1 with a bank's APR.

The calculator targets individuals. It does not account for tax specifics for businesses (e.g. for business use, leasing may allow 100% VAT deduction, while a loan may not).

It does not account for possible discounts at purchase (sometimes the vehicle's price is lower when financed via the leasing house), which can significantly change the result.

Before deciding, always check the official calculations, fee schedules, insurance requirements and other conditions with the provider.

Why this calculator

Why use a car leasing calculator?

See the payment

Enter the car price, down payment and term to see the monthly leasing payment at once, even with no down payment.

Leasing or a loan

It works out the same purchase both ways and shows the total cost and an APR estimate for each.

Include the fees

Add the arrangement fee, monthly fees and residual value from your offer.

Worked example

Leasing with no down payment: what does it cost?

Leasing with no down payment means you finance the full price of the car. The monthly payment is higher and interest runs on a larger amount. An example for a €25,000 car over 5 years at 6.90% (the calculator defaults above):

Down payment	Financed	Monthly payment	Interest	Total paid
€0	€25,000	€494	€4,631	€29,631
€5,000	€20,000	€395	€3,705	€28,705

With no down payment you pay €99 more a month and €926 more interest in total. In the first years the debt can also be higher than the car's market value, so check what your comprehensive insurance covers in case of theft or a write-off. Work out your own case above by entering €0 as the down payment.

When leasing pays off and when a loan does is covered in the article Car leasing or loan.

Frequently asked questions

Car leasing FAQ 5

Can I lease a car with no down payment?

The calculator allows it: enter €0 as the down payment. With no down payment you finance the full price of the car, so the monthly payment and the interest are higher. For a €25,000 car over 5 years at 6.90%, the payment is €494 instead of €395 with a €5,000 down payment, and the interest €4,631 instead of €3,705. Whether a leasing company approves leasing with no down payment, and on what terms, is up to that company.

How much should I put down on a lease?

Every euro you put down lowers the financed amount, and with it the payment and the interest. At 6.90% over 5 years, every €1,000 down lowers the payment by about €20 and the total interest by about €185. A larger down payment also lowers the risk of owing more than the car is worth.

What is the residual (balloon) value in a lease?

It is the part of the price you pay at the end of the contract if you want to buy the car. A contract with a balloon has lower monthly payments, but because interest runs on a larger remaining debt you usually pay more in total. If your offer has a balloon, enter it in the calculator so it is included in the total cost.

Is leasing more expensive than a loan?

Leasing often has a slightly higher interest rate, and comprehensive (kasko) insurance and processing fees are common requirements. The monthly payment can be similar; the difference shows in the total cost and the APR. Compare both offers with the same down payment and term. A detailed comparison is in the article Car leasing or loan.

Who owns the car with leasing and with a loan?

With financial leasing the leasing company owns the car until you pay the last instalment or the residual value. With a loan you own the car from the purchase, though the bank may require a lien on it.