The 1% Rule: A Starting Benchmark
The simplest way to evaluate a lease payment is the 1% rule: a competitive lease payment is roughly 1% of the vehicle's MSRP per month. A $35,000 sedan should lease for around $350/month. A $50,000 SUV should be around $500/month. A $70,000 luxury vehicle, roughly $700/month.
This assumes a 36-month term, 10,000 to 12,000 miles per year, and minimal money down (first month, taxes, registration, and fees only). If the payment you are being quoted is significantly above 1% of MSRP with those terms, something in the deal structure needs a closer look.
The 1% rule is not a law. Some vehicles lease well below 1% during promotional periods. Others, particularly those with poor residual values or high money factors, consistently lease above it. But as a first-pass filter, it tells you whether you are in the right range or getting a bad deal.
What Actually Determines Your Lease Payment
Your monthly payment is built from three core numbers. Understanding each one is how you figure out whether a quote is competitive or inflated.
1. Selling Price (Capitalized Cost)
This is the negotiated price of the car before the lease math begins. A lower selling price means a lower payment. This is the number you have the most control over as a buyer, and it is where shopping multiple dealers or using a broker makes the biggest difference. If the dealer is charging MSRP and another source offers the same car at invoice or below, that gap flows directly into your monthly payment.
2. Money Factor
The money factor is the lease equivalent of an interest rate. It is expressed as a small decimal (like 0.00125) and you can convert it to an approximate APR by multiplying by 2,400. A money factor of 0.00125 equals roughly 3% APR. A money factor of 0.00250 equals roughly 6% APR.
Manufacturers set a base money factor through their finance arms. Dealers can mark this up and keep the difference as profit. Two people leasing the exact same car at the same dealer can have different money factors if one negotiated it and the other did not. For a full breakdown of how this works and how to protect yourself, see our money factor explainer.
3. Residual Value
The residual is the percentage of MSRP that the car is expected to be worth at the end of the lease. A higher residual means you are financing less depreciation, which means a lower payment. Residuals are set by the manufacturer's finance arm and are not negotiable. They vary by make, model, trim, term length, and mileage allowance.
Vehicles with strong resale values (like many Toyota, Honda, and Porsche models) tend to have high residuals and lease well. Vehicles that depreciate quickly (some domestic sedans, certain luxury brands) have lower residuals and higher monthly payments relative to MSRP.
Real Payment Examples by Vehicle Type
Here is what competitive lease payments look like across common vehicle categories in 2026. These assume 36 months, 10,000 to 12,000 miles/year, and minimal drive-off.
- Compact sedan ($28,000 to $32,000 MSRP): Strong deals land in the $250 to $320/month range. Models like the Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, and Mazda3 often hit this range during promotional periods.
- Mid-size sedan ($33,000 to $40,000 MSRP): Expect $330 to $400/month on competitive deals. The Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, and Hyundai Sonata are common benchmarks.
- Compact SUV ($35,000 to $42,000 MSRP): The $350 to $420/month range is competitive. Popular models include the Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, and Mazda CX-50.
- Mid-size SUV ($42,000 to $55,000 MSRP): Good deals fall between $420 and $550/month. The Toyota Highlander, Kia Telluride, and Hyundai Palisade are strong lease candidates when manufacturer incentives are active.
- Luxury compact ($45,000 to $55,000 MSRP): Competitive payments are $450 to $550/month. BMW 3 Series, Mercedes C-Class, and Lexus IS often have aggressive manufacturer-subsidized lease programs.
- Luxury mid-size SUV ($55,000 to $75,000 MSRP): Expect $550 to $750/month on strong deals. BMW X5, Mercedes GLE, and Lexus RX are common options in this range.
If your quoted payment is significantly above these ranges for a comparable vehicle, the selling price is too high, the money factor has been marked up, or both.
Why Advertised Lease Payments Are Almost Never What You Pay
The $299/month lease you see in a TV commercial or banner ad is built on assumptions that rarely apply to real buyers:
- Tier 1 credit (typically 720+)
- A specific trim level (usually the base or near-base)
- 10,000 miles/year (many drivers need 12,000 or 15,000)
- A large drive-off ($2,000 to $4,000 or more due at signing)
- Regional incentives that may only apply in certain zip codes
- A specific week or month when the manufacturer incentive is active
When you adjust for your actual credit tier, mileage needs, and a reasonable drive-off amount, the real payment is often $50 to $150/month higher than the advertised number. This is not fraud; it is selective advertising. But it means you should never evaluate a lease deal based on the advertised payment alone.
How to Get a Better Lease Payment
You cannot change the residual value (it is set by the manufacturer). But you can affect the other two major factors:
- Negotiate the selling price. The cap cost is negotiable just like a purchase price. Get quotes from multiple dealers on the same car. You can browse wholesale inventory through Vantage to see what dealer pricing looks like before retail markups.
- Verify the money factor. Ask the dealer what money factor they are using and compare it to the manufacturer's base rate for that vehicle. If they have marked it up, ask them to match the base rate. This alone can save $20 to $50/month.
- Shop during incentive windows. Manufacturers rotate lease incentives monthly. End-of-quarter and end-of-year periods often produce the best programs. Timing your lease to coincide with strong incentive windows can make a meaningful difference in your payment.
- Be flexible on model and trim. Sometimes the best lease deal is not on the car you initially wanted. A different trim level or a competing model may have a significantly better residual or incentive structure, resulting in a lower payment for a comparable vehicle.
Full Disclosure: How Vantage Helps You Find the Best Lease Payment
Vantage is a licensed auto broker in New Jersey. When you tell us what vehicle you want and your target budget, we send your request to 350+ dealers who compete to offer the best price. Because multiple dealers are bidding, the selling price comes down, which directly lowers your monthly payment.
We also verify that the money factor is at the manufacturer's base rate, not marked up. And we let you know which vehicles currently have the strongest lease programs based on residual and incentive data.
There may be a broker fee depending on the deal, which we disclose upfront. The savings from dealer competition typically exceed the fee, but we will always show you the math before you commit.
If you want to see what a competitive lease payment looks like for the vehicle you are considering, get a free quote in 5 minutes. No spam. No pressure. Unsubscribe anytime.
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