A lease buyout calculator compares the contract residual to market value and optional loan cost to decide whether buying your leased car beats returning it.
Am Ende eines Autoleasingvertrags steht die Übernahme-Entscheidung. Der vertragliche Übernahmepreis (Restwert) basiert auf Vorhersagen von vor mehreren Jahren. Liegen die tatsächlichen Gebrauchtwagenmarktpreise über diesem garantierten Preis, erwerben Sie mit der Übernahme ein hochprofitables Asset, das Sie sofort gewinnbringend weiterverkaufen könnten.
Leasing-Rückkauf vs Rückgabe
Am Leasingende vergleichen Sie Vertrags-Restwert mit Marktwert (KBB/Edmunds). Liegt der Markt über dem Restwert, kann Kauf attraktiv sein; darunter lohnt Rückgabe oft mehr.
Umsatzsteuer, Zulassung und Buyout-Finanzierung gehören in die Gesamtkosten—nicht nur den Restwert vergleichen.
Finanzieren Sie den Buyout, zählt die Autokreditrate zur Gesamtkostenrechnung gegen Neuleasing oder Gebrauchtwagen.
Leitfaden, Beispiele und Methodik
How to use this car lease buyout calculator
Enter your contract residual (buyout price), estimated market value, optional sales tax rate, disposition or purchase fees, and buyout loan terms if you will finance the purchase. The calculator compares buying the car at lease end versus walking away, and can include a simple finance payment if you do not pay cash. Use it 60–90 days before lease maturity when you still have time to get independent market quotes.
Leasing companies set the residual at contract signing; market values move with supply, mileage, and model year. When market value exceeds residual, you have positive equity in buyout terms—the car is cheaper to buy than to replace at retail. When residual exceeds market value, returning the vehicle often beats buying unless you have excess wear fees that make return costly.
Example (USD): SUV with $22,000 residual
Market value
Residual
Rough equity
Typical call
$24,500
$22,000
+$2,500
Buyout may beat retail replacement
$20,000
$22,000
−$2,000
Return or negotiate early buyout
$22,000 + 7% tax + $395 fee
—
—
Include tax/fees in true cost
Buyout vs return vs new lease
Buying preserves known maintenance history and avoids disposition charges when the car is in good shape. Returning is simple when the residual is above market or when wear-and-tear charges would apply on buyout anyway. A new lease resets payment but adds acquisition fees and another residual bet—compare the monthly cost of a new lease against owning the current car for 3–5 more years using this buyout math plus estimated maintenance.
Financing the buyout
Many lessors offer buyout loans; credit unions and banks may beat captive lender rates. Enter APR and term here to see monthly payment and total finance cost stacked on top of residual plus tax. A low payment with a 72-month note can cost more total interest than a shorter loan even if the buyout price is fair.
Early buyout before lease end
Early buyout quotes sometimes use remaining payments plus residual minus credits—not the contract residual alone. If you model early exit, confirm the lessor's payoff quote includes all remaining rent charge and fees. This calculator focuses on end-of-lease residual versus market; adjust inputs if your quote differs.
How we calculate
Equity position ≈ market value minus residual (before tax). Total buyout cost adds sales tax on the taxable base (rules vary by US state), purchase option fees, and finance interest if applicable. We do not model excess mileage or wear charges on return—add those mentally if your return inspection would be expensive.
Common mistakes
Comparing residual to trade-in offer without checking private-party market value.
Ignoring sales tax on buyout when budgeting cash needed at signing.
Financing buyout at a long term on an aging vehicle without warranty coverage.
Assuming buyout price is negotiable when the contract fixes the residual (some lessors allow negotiation—ask).
Forgetting gap between lease insurance requirements and loan payoff if the car is totaled after buyout.
Related calculators
After buyout you own a depreciating asset—compare ongoing costs to a fresh lease or purchase using our car loan amortization calculator. For household cash-flow, see how buyout payment fits alongside mortgage refinance or student loan payoff in our refinance cluster guide.
Sollte ich das Auto kaufen, wenn der Marktwert unter dem Restwert liegt?
Nein, in diesem Fall ist das Auto zu teuer. Es ist finanziell schlauer, den Wagen vertragsgemäß abzugeben und die Wertminderung der Bank zu überlassen.