After looking at the mathematics, the decision seemed aboveboard. We signed a 36-month lease for a 2018 Hyundai Elantra. here ’ s how much it cost .
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Down payment: $3,000
Car dealerships advertise humble monthly payments, but the payments are merely low if your down payment is big. When you ’ re leasing a car, the equality is simple : The higher the depository, the lower the monthly payment. We decided to put down a higher monthly deposit to secure a monthly payment of $ 100. We paid $ 2,000 in cash from our savings and an extra $ 1,000 from the sale of our erstwhile Honda on Craigslist. tip : Dealerships are frequently trying to get rid of certain models or colors. For exercise, when we were shopping, a local franchise was running a particular on an upgrade model. It was actually cheaper to get a fancier car that calendar month because they had ordered besides many in one color. Find out which dealerships are running the best particular. next, chat with a representative on-line and get the discount in writing before you visit. You ’ ll save meter, ( hopefully ) some money and a few headaches .
Car tax: $14.99 per month
once we determined the basics of our lease, we learned about taxes and fees. evening though our car payment is $ 100 per calendar month, we are besides responsible for taxes and fees. What we actually pay each month is more than $ 100. Our taxes and fees rang in at $ 14.99 per month.
topple : Your monthly payment international relations and security network ’ t actually the monthly payment you negotiate with the car sales representative. plan to pay an extra 15 % every month on tax. For more on how car leases work, go here .
Registration & other DMV fees: $0 (sort of)
One of the perks of rent ( or buying ) a sword new is car is that all extra fees, like registration, are included in the price. evening though we did technically pay the Department of Motor Vehicle fees, it was included in our polish payment. IWe paid our lodge, signed the paperwork and drove the car home that night. Our license plate and registration came in the mail a few weeks belated .
Car insurance: $129 per month
car policy is the final major price you need to consider when you lease a cable car. Because we were in a bad accident concluding year, our insurance costs are higher than normal. careless, it does typically cost more to insure a lease car. ( here ‘s why. ) It ’ sulfur important to account for those costs when you ’ re deciding whether to lease a vehicle. Find out what car insurance costs in your state. tip : Don ’ metric ton be afraid to shop around for cable car indemnity quotes. Leasing ( or buying ) a fresh car is the perfect time to change your policy supplier and get a better softwood .
Total: Almost $12K over 3 years
Over the course of our 36-month lease, we will pay a total of $ 7,139.64 to the franchise for the joy of using their car. With policy, DMV fees and regular anoint chances, we ’ ll pay a august sum of closely $ 12,000. For us, it ’ mho worth it. For other people, buying a car is the way to go. It ‘s normally cheaper in the long-run and the car is yours, so there ‘s no mileage penalties or restrictions to deal with. But buying normally requires a higher devour payment and alimony costs down the line. Read our guide to buying a car. Image: Arslan Ozgur Sukan
Read more: The Best Car Insurance Companies for 2022
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