How to Calculate Your Auto Lease Payment

It is helpful to go into the dealership having an understanding of how to calculate your auto lease payment. Although every dealership is unique, knowing the basic components that go into an auto lease payment can save you time and money. Take control by understanding the following three concepts: Depreciation, Financing, and Sales Tax.

Depreciation

The amount the vehicle is estimated to depreciate during the time you are driving it is going to be a major factor in your car lease payment. Depreciation is the difference between the vehicles original, full price value and its value at the end of the lease.

It is important to note that different makes and models of vehicles can have different depreciation rates, making a vehicle with the lower depreciation rate the best deal. The smaller the difference between initial cost and lease-end value, the lower the lease payment, the better the lease deal.

Financing

Financing is what pays the leasing company for the use of their vehicle over the agreed upon time; similar to the interest you pay on a loan. The financing fee is also driven by your credit score; therefore, a higher credit score would yield  a lower monthly payment.

Sales Tax

Once the dealership calculates the depreciation and financing fee, sales tax must be added. In the state of Texas, sales tax rates are 6.25% of your vehicle’s purchase price. Unsure of your local sales tax? https://www.sale-tax.com/Texas

Getting an idea of what your lease payments will look like will help you plan your next car lease. If you have any questions about how to calculate your lease payment, our D&M representatives are here to help. Also, feel assured that whenever you’re leasing with D&M, you’re receiving the lowest rate son any consumer lease with the EZ Lease.

5 Step Guide to Vehicle Leasing

At D&M Auto Leasing, we strive to make vehicle leasing easy and enjoyable. We have created an easy 5 step guide to help you through the vehicle leasing process.

Step 1: Do Your Homework

Start by determining what type of vehicle you like. Discover the various sizes within the car type you are looking for and narrow down your options of make and model. View the various options and features each car has to offer and determine if the car is within your budget. To prevent feeling overwhelmed, we suggest narrowing down to your top 3 choices and test drive those vehicles. During your test drive, inquire about specials and offers for vehicle leases.  

Step 2:  The Car Lease Contract 

You want to become familiar with leasing terminology, so you are knowledgeable with the terms of the car leasing contract. You should know how many months you want to lease your car and how many miles you expect to drive annually.  Be prepared to ask about warranties and if car service maintenance is covered or included in your lease. Typical lease terms are 30-39 months and 10,000- 12,000 miles per year.  Also, don’t forget to ask about the current lease specials or vehicle lease deals to maximize your savings

Step 3: Estimate Your Vehicle’s Leasing Monthly Payment

The most important step is knowing your budget. There are several free online tools to help you determine your monthly payment. The formula factors the residual value, mileage, down payment, and trade-in value of your previous vehicle to determine your estimated monthly payment. A D&M Leasing agent can help you find the perfect budget. 

Step 4: Call D&M Auto Leasing 

At D&M Auto Leasing, our staff is dedicated to granting you superior customer service, without pressuring you to sign. We offer competitive lease offers and are committed to finding you the best car lease deal within your budget. We offer a variety of lease programs like EZ Lease.  You are ready for the last step.

Step 5: Review & Sign Your Vehicle Lease

After working with your trusted car leasing agent, you are ready to review the paperwork and sign on the dotted line. You found the vehicle, got a low monthly payment, and determined your car lease terms. You are now ready to drive off with your new leased vehicle or get your vehicle delivered right to you!  

Unofficial, Step 6: Celebrate Your New Car Lease!

At D&M Leasing, we are dedicated to excellent customer service without imposing on your time. Receive exceptionally friendly local service every time you have a question about your lease. 

Good Cars for College Students to Lease

As a college student, car payments and maintenance should be the last thing on your mind. College students should consider leasing their next car because of the low monthly car payments, little to no down payment, and overall reliability of a newer car. We have recommended good cars for college students to lease that are not only budget friendly, but also reliable.

Below is a list of a few of our top “good cars for college students to lease.” We compared sticker price, base models, gas efficiency, safety, and upgradeable options:

Hyundai Elantra

The Hyundai Elantra is a luxury looking sedan with a budget friendly price tag and a great leasing option for any college student. Complete with a durable engine, excellent safety features, this aesthetically pleasing car will definitely turn heads on your college campus. The Elantra has a variety of upgradeable options to make the vehicle of your dreams. This sedan is the perfect option for weekends with friends and running errands around campus.

Mazda3

The Mazda3 is a fun, budget friendly car for college students to lease. The Mazda 3 is a sporty sedan with a futuristic exterior & exceptional fuel economy. The Mazda3 is an excellent choice for college students on a crowded campus. With many exceptional safety features and high-tech interior, the Mazda3 is a good car for college students to lease who want luxury features at a low price.

Toyota Prius and Toyota Yaris

The Toyota Prius and Toyota Yaris are likely the two best options for college students in the Toyota series. These cars are excellent on gas mileage and use an eco-friendly engine system. Both vehicles are incredibly safe and have an enhanced crash avoidance system. The Toyota Prius and Toyota Yaris are not only eco-friendly, but also pocket friendly for those seeking student car lease on a budget.

Whether you are entering college, graduating, or continuing your education, it is important to have a reliable vehicle to get you from point A to point B. At D&M Leasing, we offer a variety of good cars for college students to lease through our EZ Lease program. Looking for an SUV, Truck or something different? Contact one of our knowledgeable car leasing consultants who are ready to assist you today. Browse our current car leasing deals and inventory to view what D&M Auto Leasing has to offer.

When It Makes Sense To Lease A Car

Want to know when you should lease a car? Find out when does it makes sense to lease a car and the advantages car leasing can offer you. Read more on our blog post!

Leasing a Car During a Pandemic

For the past few months, our country has gone through many changes as we navigate through the COVID-19 pandemic and begin to emerge into our “new normal.” At D&M Leasing, we want to reassure our new and existing clients that we are here for you and have increased our health and safety measures throughout the car leasing experience.

Enhanced Sanitation Procedures

We implemented vehicle sanitation procedures that allow for zero contact between our employees and a customer. Every time a person is in contact with a vehicle, the vehicle undergoes our “sanitation process” which includes a full disinfectant cleaning from our employees wearing gloves.

Our goal is to keep you and our employees safe and protected throughout the car leasing process.

Contactless Car Leasing

At D&M Leasing, we are committed to providing our exceptional customer service as we move through these unprecedented times. We will process the entire transaction over the phone: application process, vehicle trade-in, and our inventory. All documentation is handled and signed electronically from your cell phone, tablet or desktop computer. Lastly, we will deliver your sanitized vehicle to your front door for your safety and convenience.

Special Interest Rates and No Payment Offer

We understand the impact the pandemic has affected everyone’s financial stability. We are currently offering special low interest rates on all vehicles. In addition, we are also offering no payments for 90 days to assist you during these difficult economic times.

For over 40 years, D&M Leasing is still proudly serving all North Texas and Greater Houston area customers. Even though our physical offices are closed, our employees are committed to meet the needs of our customers. We will continue to serve you and enhance your experience with our new sanitation procedures, contactless car leasing and special financial offers. For more information about COVID19 safety please read more from our CEO or contact us today!

Ideal Credit Score to Lease a Car

If you are interested in leasing a car in the near future, making sure you meet all the minimum requirements is an important first step. First and foremost, it’s important to know your ideal credit score to lease a car.

Lease requirements vary from dealership to dealership, so while there is no real hard “minimum” number, you can expect that the better your credit score is, the better your chances are at getting a lease. 

How Do I Earn an Ideal Credit Score for Leasing a Car?

Before you can begin car shopping, it is important to know your credit score. You can request a credit report from each of the 3 credit bureaus, however you can only do this once each year. Another great alternative is to utilize services like Credit Karma or Mint to keep an eye on your score month-to-month.

If your credit score is lower than the average, or you simply want to improve your credit score to lease a car, there are some steps you can take.

  • Lower your debt – Your credit score is based on many factors, but one of the largest impacts is your credit utilization percentage. Lowering your balance on credit cards to under 30% will help improve your score.
  • Never miss a payment – late payments on credit cards, bills, or loans will negatively impact your credit score. Be sure to pay on time to be in good standing.
  • Keep your credit accounts open – your credit history takes the average length of your open accounts. Keeping your accounts open (unless you cannot afford the yearly fee) will give you a larger credit limit total and reflect positively on your score.

If you are confident about your credit score, check out some of our great lease deals. At D&M Leasing we are all about making the car leasing process easy. We want to see you in a new set of wheels with EZ Lease. Get in touch with us today with our contactless communication – fill out the form below or call us now!

First Time Car Lease Tips

It is best to know some car leasing tips and tricks before walking into the dealership. Read our blog post to find out about our first time car lease tips.

The Top 5 Myths About Leasing a Car

There are some falsehoods about the car leasing process. Read the blog post to find out why we are debunking the top five biggest myths about leasing a car.