What's money factor on a lease?

The money factor is the financing charge a person will pay on a lease. It is similar to the interest rate paid on a loan, and it is also based on a customer's credit score. It is commonly depicted as a very small decimal that begins in the thousandth place (i.e., 0.00#).

What is a good money factor on a lease?

A decent money factor for a lessee with great credit is typically around 3% to 5%. If you have fantastic credit and you're offered a lease with a money factor higher than . 0025 (or 6% APR) then it may be worth your time to shop around.

Can you negotiate the money factor in a lease?

Negotiate the interest rate (money factor) on the lease to a level appropriate to current market interest rates. During the negotiation process, be sure the calculations are always using one lease term—36 months, for example—so that you are comparing apples to apples.

How is the money factor calculated on a car lease?

The customer's credit score determines the money factor. You can use the lease charge to calculate the money factor with this formula: Money Factor = Lease Charge / (Capitalized Cost * Residual Value) * Lease Term. Once you have the money factor, you can multiply it by 2,400 to convert it to an interest rate.

How much does money factor affect lease payment?

It is argued that the money factor is a grey area in the car lease industry, primarily because many customers do not understand the concept. It is argued that customers may not understand the direct effect on the monthly lease payments or that the money factor is quoted at 1/2400 times of an APR.

The Truth About Leasing .. The Money Factor

Is my money factor good?

If the money factor is a decimal followed by two zeroes and anything above 35 (0.0035), you're getting an interest rate that would be at least 8.4 percent APR, which could be considered a high interest rate. If you're not happy with the money factor you're offered, it may be possible to negotiate something lower.

Why is 2400 the money factor?

2400 is the product of 3 consecutive conversion (1/2 * 1/12 * 1/100) to convert from an interest rate to a money factor. 6/2400 = Money factor of 0.0025 which can be multiplied against the total amount being borrowed to know what the monthly interest would roughly equal.

Who determines the money factor?

The money factor is directly determined by a customer's credit score. The higher the credit score, the lower the money factor on a lease, and vice versa.

What is a good car lease interest rate?

Different lenders (leasing companies) will offer different interest rates. Use a rate between 2% and 5% if you have strong credit, between 6% and 9% for average credit and between 10% to 15% for poor credit. Length of the lease: Car leases usually last 36 months, which is how long most extended warranties last.

How can you decrease your monthly lease payment?

If you want to lower your monthly payments, you'll need to find a way to get out of your contract. To get out of your contract, you'll either need to refinance your lease, or use a program such as a lease transfer, or lease buyout in order to get to a more affordable payment.

Do dealers mark up money factor?

A dealer can easily mark up a money factor by a small amount and while it may seem low, when you calculate it into a percent, the dealer could be making upwards of 3% interest on your financing. This can add up to a profit of more than $1,500 for the dealer.

How do I negotiate a car lease with no money down?

Another way to get a zero-down lease is to negotiate hard and insist you won't be leasing a car without it. Sometimes, it just won't happen, no matter how good you are at negotiating. But many times, dealerships and lending companies can be persuaded to roll the lease's down payment into the car's monthly payments.

What is the best month to lease a car?

Most new models are introduced between July and October, so this is the time that you should try to lease to maximize your savings. 2) Holidays: Lease shoppers can find special dealership incentives during long holiday weekends, including President's Day, Memorial Day, July 4, Labor Day, and Thanksgiving.

Is it better to have a higher or lower residual on a lease?

A higher residual value means the car is expected to hold its value well (depreciate less) over the lease term. Remember, most of your lease payment covers the cost of depreciation. So less depreciation (or higher residual value) can mean lower monthly payments over the lease term.

Can you negotiate the residual value at the end of a lease?

The residual value helps determine what your monthly lease payment will be. The lease residual is also the price you will pay if you decide to buy the vehicle once your lease is up. This is something you can negotiate as part of your lease contract.

Why you should never put money down on a lease?

Another reason to avoid putting any money down is because in most states, you will need to pay taxes on that amount. (If you roll it into the monthly payment, you'll still pay taxes, but it will be paid off slowly over the life of the lease).

What is the lease payment on a $30000 car?

Your budget on that $30,000 car is $300.00 monthly. In reality, it rarely pays off to put any additional money down on a car lease in order to reduce your monthly payment.

Should you put cash down on a lease?

In a car lease, a down payment is often called a capitalized cost reduction, or cap cost reduction. Putting money down on a car lease isn't typically required unless you have bad credit. If you aren't required to make a down payment on a lease, you generally shouldn't.

How is interest calculated on a lease?

To determine the interest amount, take the purchase price, add the negotiated price and multiply it by the money factor or interest rate. For example, take $25,000 plus $24,000 and using a money factor of . 003, your interest would be $147 ($25,000 + $24,000 x .

What is the residual value of a leased vehicle?

A car's residual value is the value of the car at the end of the lease term. The residual value is also the amount you can buy a car at the end of the lease. A residual percentage will be provided when signing the car lease agreement to help you calculate your car's value at lease end.

Is money Factor same as interest?

Basically, the money factor is the financing rate on a lease, similar to an interest rate on a loan. Money factors exist due to the fact that calculating interest on a lease is more complicated than on a loan, so the leasing company does the math and includes it into the lease cost.

How do you calculate money factor from interest rate?

One Conversion Rate for Any Money Factor

To find the equivalent interest rate for a money factor, multiply the factor by 2,400. For example, if the money factor is 0.00271, the math gives an interest rate of 6.5 percent. You can also go from an interest rate to a money factor by dividing the rate by the same 2,400.