How to read a car offer before you call

Every offer in our catalog is written the same way: the monthly payment, the term, the amount due at signing and the yearly mileage limit, next to the name of the company that published it. The format is fixed so that two offers can be compared line by line. This guide goes through each number and what sits behind it.

The monthly payment

The payment is the number the company published for that car and that deal. It does not include sales tax, title, registration, license or the dealer’s documentation fee, so the amount on your contract will be higher than the one on the page.

Most offers assume approved credit at the lender’s top tier. With a lower credit score the same car costs more each month. Ask which tier the payment assumes before you compare it with another offer.

Term and due at signing

The term is the length of the lease or loan in months. Due at signing is what you pay on the day you sign: usually the first payment, a down payment and some fees. Two offers with the same monthly payment can differ by a lot at signing, so read the two numbers together.

Ask the company for the amount line by line. Due at signing, line by line explains each part.

The mileage limit

A lease comes with a yearly mileage limit, and every mile over it is charged when you return the car. If the company did not publish a limit, the offer says “Mileage limit not published — confirm with the dealer” or “with the broker”. Settle the limit before you agree to anything.

The date we checked it

Every offer carries the date we last checked it, and where it came from: the company’s own public listing, or sent to us by the company. Offers change and expire between checks, so a recent date is a better sign than an old one. The company’s own terms on the day you sign are the ones that count.

What to ask before you visit

1. 1Is this offer still available on the day I plan to come in?
2. 2What is the total due at signing, line by line?
3. 3Which credit tier does the payment assume?
4. 4What is the yearly mileage limit, and what does each extra mile cost?
5. 5Is there a broker fee, and is it included in the payment?

To compare offers for one car, open its model page from Lease deals. To compare the companies themselves, see Car brokers and Dealers; how they are ordered is explained in How we rate.

General information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Confirm the final terms with the company before you sign.