Does putting money down lower my lease payment?

Yes, a larger drive-off (down payment) reduces your monthly payment because it lowers the capitalized cost that gets spread across the lease term. However, putting money down on a lease carries risk: if the car is totaled or stolen early in the lease, you lose that down payment because insurance pays the leasing company, not you. Many advisors recommend keeping drive-off payments minimal and letting the monthly payment absorb the full cost.