A low monthly payment can look attractive. On its own, however, it does not show whether an offer is low or high for its market. The leasing factor relates the payment to the list price; the total cost factor adds important one-off contract costs.
Calculate the leasing factor
You need two figures from the offer:
Example: €350 divided by a €40,000 gross list price, multiplied by 100, produces a leasing factor of 0.875. The number describes only the relationship between payment and list price. It excludes upfront payment, transfer costs, term, mileage and running costs.
Why the total cost factor is usually more informative
Spread the upfront payment and transfer costs across the contract term, then add them to the monthly payment:
With a €399 payment, €10,000 upfront, 36 months and an €80,000 list price, the factor rises from about 0.50 to about 0.85, before any further costs. Both values are mathematically valid, but they answer different questions.
Assess your own lease offer
Enter the payment, list price, upfront payment, transfer costs and term. The calculator shows both factors and explains the assessment.
Calculate leasing factorWhat a low factor means — and what it does not
Among comparable offers, a lower factor means a lower payment relative to list price. It does not prove that leasing costs less overall than buying or financing. Depreciation, insurance, maintenance, return costs and tied-up capital are outside the factor.
A fixed threshold can also mislead. Factors vary by personal or business segment, model, powertrain, term, mileage and observation date. Carculated therefore uses current distributions instead of a universal traffic-light rating.
Current market context
The table shows the median and middle 50% of observed personal lease offers. Brands enter the ranking only once they reach the disclosed minimum sample. Smaller groups remain visible but are not rated.
Current private market
Total cost factor from analysed offers
Median 1.06 · 25–75 % 0.94–1.21
| Brand | Sample | Median | 25–75 % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peugeot | n=32 | 0.98 | 0.73–1.14 |
| BMW | n=45 | 1.04 | 0.95–1.17 |
| Ford | n=33 | 1.04 | 0.96–1.14 |
| Audi | n=52 | 1.07 | 0.98–1.16 |
| Volkswagen | n=51 | 1.10 | 0.99–1.21 |
Source: 14,068 analysed MeinAuto offers. Brands enter this ranking only at n=30 in the private segment.
View all models, filters and sample sizes →How to compare offers consistently
- Match the customer segment: compare personal gross with personal gross, and business net with business net.
- Align term and mileage: use the same months and annual mileage wherever possible.
- Include one-off costs: add upfront payment and transfer costs through the total cost factor.
- Review the sample: consider count, median, quartiles and observation date instead of one extreme offer.
- Model the wider decision separately: then compare leasing, finance and cash purchase over the same period.
Limits of the metric
Neither factor includes every contract and vehicle cost. Also review excess mileage, return-condition charges, maintenance, tyres, insurance, tax and the actual contract terms. Use the total-cost comparison for the decision between leasing, finance and cash purchase.
In brief
- The leasing factor compares monthly payment with gross list price.
- The total cost factor adds upfront payment and transfer costs.
- A useful assessment needs comparable offers, sample size and observation date.
- The factor does not replace a full cost or contract comparison.