Car Lease Agreement Checklist
What it should state. What's commonly not stated. What to ask before you sign.
You're about to sign a car lease agreement. This page lists what a complete one states, the lines that are commonly not stated, and the questions worth asking before your name goes on it.
This is a reading checklist, not advice. Spend Defense doesn't tell you whether to sign — we make sure you've actually seen what's on the page, and what isn't.
What a complete car lease states
Capitalized cost — the agreed price of the vehicle in the lease, shown next to MSRP.
Cap cost reductions — cash down, trade equity, and rebates that lower the capitalized cost, each listed.
Money factor — the lease rate, stated as a number.
Residual value — the projected value at the end of the lease, in dollars.
Monthly payment, term, and due at signing — all three, with what the due-at-signing amount includes.
Mileage allowance — miles per year and the per-mile charge for going over.
Wear-and-tear standards — what counts as excess wear at return.
Disposition fee — the fee charged when you turn the car in, if any.
Early termination terms — how the amount owed is calculated if the lease ends early.
What's commonly not stated
- Money factor — it can be left off the worksheet even though it drives the payment.
- Early termination math — often the least-stated section — a formula reference instead of an example in dollars.
- Excess-wear examples — what counts as excess (tire tread, dents, scratches) may sit in a separate guide you never see.
- GAP coverage — whether GAP is built into the lease or sold separately is not always clear.
- Purchase-option fee — buying the car at lease end may carry an extra fee beyond the residual.
None of these gaps decide anything by themselves. They're the lines to ask about before you sign, not after.
Questions to ask before you sign
- “What is the capitalized cost, and how does it compare to MSRP?”
- “What are the money factor and the residual value?”
- “How many miles per year are included, and what is the charge per mile over?”
- “What would I owe if I ended the lease early — can you show an example in dollars?”
- “Is there a disposition fee or a purchase-option fee?”
Want a second set of eyes on the actual document?
Send us the paperwork before you sign. A Quick Check reads your document and shows you what it says, what's not stated, and what to ask — for $4.99 (up to 10 pages). Longer documents: Document Review $19, Premium Review $49.
Check my document →We don't decide for you. We make sure nothing on the page — or missing from it — surprises you later.
FAQ
How much should a car lease cost?
We don't price other people's leases — the payment depends on the capitalized cost, the money factor, the residual, and the term. What you can check is whether your agreement states all four as numbers. A lease that shows only the monthly payment leaves the rest of the math unstated; ask before signing.
What if something on this checklist is missing from my lease agreement?
Ask for it in writing before you sign. A missing money factor or early termination example isn't a verdict on the dealer; it's an unknown in a contract you'll live with for years. Getting it stated costs nothing at the desk and settles it.
Can Spend Defense read my actual car lease?
Yes — that's the Quick Check. Send the document and you'll get back what it says, what's not stated, and what to ask, for $4.99 (up to 10 pages). Longer lease packets go through the Document Review ($19, up to 25 pages).
Related checklists
Spend Defense — we read the paperwork before you sign. We don't decide for you.