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How is a Lease Buyout Calculated?
Published 1/27/26
TL;DR (6-minute read): A lease buyout = your lease payoff + taxes + fees. If your residual value (which impacts your payoff) was set too low, buying out can help you keep equity. If it was set too high, you might be overpaying—so run the numbers before you commit.
If you’re asking “how is a lease buyout calculated?” you’re probably in one of two places:
- You’re near the end of your lease and trying to figure out what it’ll actually cost to keep the car, or
- You’re eyeing an early lease buyout and thinking, “Is this smart… or am I about to do something expensive and emotional?”
Either way, the math is way less mysterious than dealerships and bank portals make it feel. Let’s break it down with real-world-style examples (Toyota, BMW, Jeep), and I’ll show you the exact pieces that make up your buyout total.
Along the way, I’ll point you to:
- Lease End’s Buyout Score Tool (to tell you if the buyout makes sense based on your vehicle, not what it costs) and
- Lease End’s Monthly Payment Calculator (to estimate your payments if you finance the buyout with Lease End)
Note: Exact totals vary by state, lender, and your contract. The examples below use realistic numbers, but they’re examples.
The 15-second answer (the buyout formula)
At the simplest level, your lease buyout is usually: Payoff + Taxes + Lender/Dealer Fees
(Again, if you work with Lease End, you won't be charged the typical documentation fees.)
That’s the “near-the-end-of-lease” version.
If you’re buying out early: (Payoff + Remaining Payments) ± adjustments + Taxes + Fees
In the plainest terms, you haven’t “paid down” the lease yet, so more of the obligation is still sitting there.
What “residual value” really means (in normal-person English)
Residual value is the lease company’s prediction—made at the start of your lease—of what your car will be worth at the end. And it's a big (but not the only) component of your payoff amount.
Think of it like a pre-set “future value”:
- Higher residual value = lower lease payments (because you’re financing less depreciation)
- Lower residual value = higher lease payments (because you’re financing more depreciation)
By the way...if you're not connecting the financial dots or keeping up with the jargon, the good news is that you literally never have to if you work with Lease End. Our Payoff Intelligence technology combined with our top-notch Financial Specialists will have you covered so you won't have to lift a finger.
The full buyout calculation: what gets added on top of residual
Here are the usual add-ons that turn “residual value” into “how much you actually pay”:
1) Sales tax (state-dependent)
Some states tax the buyout price, some tax differently depending on whether you’re buying from a lessor vs dealer, and some have credits/trade-in rules.
2) Purchase option fee (common)
Many leases include a purchase option fee (often a few hundred bucks). It’s usually in your contract.
3) Title + registration
This isn’t always included in the lender quote, but it’s part of the real-world cost.
4) Lender / processing fees
If you finance the buyout, your new lender may have origination/admin fees (varies).
5) Any remaining obligations (early buyout)
If you’re buying early, your quote may include:
- Remaining depreciation payments
- Remaining rent charge/finance portion (or a method to calculate it)
- Sometimes credits/adjustments depending on the bank and state rules
Early buyouts can still be a smart move if:
- the car is worth more than the payoff, and/or
- you’re avoiding mileage penalties / wear charges / dealership fees, and/or
- you’re planning to keep the car long-term regardless and want out of the lease cycle
Learn More:
Real buyout examples (Toyota, BMW, Jeep)
Again—examples. But this is the exact structure you’ll see.
Example 1: Toyota end-of-lease buyout (the simplest version to follow)
Let’s say your lease contract shows:
- Residual value: $22,400
- Purchase option fee: $350
- Sales tax (example): 7%
- Title/registration estimate: $450
Calculation: Base buyout of $22,400
+ purchase option fee: $350 → $22,750
+ sales tax (7% of $22,400 or $22,750 depending on state): ~ $1,568
+ title/registration: $450
Estimated total: ~$24,700–$24,900
Now here’s the part people miss:
If that Toyota is worth $26,500 on the open market, your buyout is basically an opportunity to keep your equity instead of handing it back at turn-in.
Example 2: BMW end-of-lease buyout (fees + taxes matter more than you think)
BMW leases can be totally normal… until the “fine print costs” show up.
Example numbers:
- Residual value: $33,900
- Purchase option fee: $495
- Tax (example): 8.1%
- Title/registration estimate: $600
First add $33,900 + $495 = $34,395
+ Tax (~8.1%): ~$2,746
+ title/reg: $600
Estimated total: ~$37,700
Why BMW drivers love the buyout math:
- If the residual was set too low and the car held value well, you might have equity.
- If the residual was set too high (it happens), you could be staring at a buyout price that’s higher than what the car is actually worth.
More on that in a second.
Example 3: Jeep end-of-lease buyout (when market value moves fast)
Jeeps are famous for resale strength…and also for resale chaos depending on model, trim, and market swings.
Example:
- Residual value: $28,800
- Purchase option fee: $300
- Tax (example): 6.5%
- Title/registration estimate: $500
If the Base + fee: $29,100
+ Tax (~6.5%): ~$1,872
+ title/reg: $500
Estimated total: ~$31,400–$31,600
If that Jeep is worth $33k+ in your area, the buyout can be a no-brainer.
If it’s worth $28k, the buyout is…a feelings-based decision. (No judgment. But let’s at least know it.)
If it’s worth $28k, the buyout is…a feelings-based decision. (No judgment. But let’s at least know it.)
When residual values were set too low (your equity opportunity)
This is the “winning” scenario.
Residual set low = buyout price is relatively low = if the car’s real market value is higher, you can keep that upside.
This can happen when:
- The leasing bank got conservative forecasting resale
- The model unexpectedly stayed in high demand
- Used car prices rose faster than expected (hello, supply chain years)
In plain terms: your contract accidentally gave you a discount on your own car.
That’s exactly what your Buyout Score is meant to surface—because buyout decisions aren’t just math, they’re math plus context.
When residual values were set too high (the “don’t overpay” warning)
This is where people get burned.
Residual set high = lease payment looks great = buyout price later can be painful.
This can happen when:
- A model’s resale value drops harder than predicted
- Incentives flood the market (new cars get discounted, used prices soften)
- A refresh/redesign makes older versions less desirable
If your buyout quote is higher than what the car would cost to replace on the open market, you should pause.
This doesn’t mean “never buy out.” It means:
- Run the numbers
- Compare against realistic replacement options
- Consider taxes/fees you’d pay either way
Common “wait, what about…” questions
“Is the buyout price the same as my payoff?”
Not always. “Payoff” can mean different things depending on timing, lender, and who you're talking to. While "payoff," "residual," and "buyout" are often used interchangeably, each term has its own nuances.
“Can a dealer change my buyout price?”
The residual value is set in stone by the lessor, but the path you take can absolutely impact your overall buyout cost. Some dealers tack on extras, and some loan aggregators charge a "doc" fee (documentation fee) as part of your transaction. That’s one reason we’re big on clear quotes and transparent math.
“Does my down payment on the lease reduce my buyout?”
Not directly. Your lease payments covered depreciation and rent charge over time. The buyout is typically based on the contract residual (plus fees/tax). Your earlier payments helped you get to lease-end, not reduce the residual.
One last plug for our free tools
If you want to stop doing napkin math and see your buyout clearly, check out these resources:
And if you're past that point or just ready to get your buyout started and over with, go ahead and fill out the form below with your VIN or license plate number.
You might be shocked how fast and easy this can be when you let us do the legwork. (Check what our drivers have to say.)