
The GM lease money factor can be a bit confusing, but it's actually a pretty straightforward concept. It's a percentage that's used to calculate the monthly lease payments, and it's usually expressed as a decimal.
For example, a money factor of 0.003 means you'll pay $3 per month for every $1,000 borrowed. This can add up quickly, especially if you're leasing a more expensive vehicle.
The money factor is usually higher for leased vehicles than for financed ones, which means you'll pay more per month. According to GM's lease terms, a money factor of 0.003 is typical for most of their lease programs.
What Is Leasing?
Leasing is a form of car financing where you don't pay for the entire car. You just pay for the depreciation that occurs over the term of the lease, plus fees and interest.
The capitalized cost, or cap cost, is essentially the price of the vehicle. Any discounts off the capitalized costs, such as special lease deals from automakers, are called "cap cost reductions."
A vehicle's residual value is its expected value at the end of the lease period. This value is crucial in determining the total cost of the lease.
Most lease periods are two and three years, though you can negotiate contracts with different terms.
What Is Leasing?
Leasing is a form of car financing where you don't pay for the entire car, but rather for the depreciation that occurs over the term of the lease, plus fees and interest.
You'll typically need to pay an amount due at signing, followed by a series of monthly lease payments that cover the remaining cost.
The price of the vehicle is known as the capitalized cost, or cap cost, and any discounts off this price are called cap cost reductions.
A vehicle's expected value at the end of the lease period is its residual value.
The rate of interest you'll pay is represented by the money factor.
Most lease periods are two and three years, although you can negotiate contracts with different terms.
Benefits of Leasing a Car
Leasing a car can be a great option for many people. One of the main benefits is that monthly payments are lower than they would be if you were buying a car.
You can get a nicer car or afford extra options for the same monthly payments as buying. For example, you can get the latest safety and connectivity tech, such as automatic emergency braking and advanced driver assistance technology.
Newer cars often have better fuel economy than older models. This can save you money on gas and reduce your carbon footprint.
Unless you're putting a lot of miles on your car, it will be covered by the manufacturer's warranty for the entire lease term. This means you won't have to worry about expensive repairs.
Some leases even include periodic maintenance, which can give you a low and predictable total cost of ownership.
At the end of the lease, you can simply drive the car to the dealership and walk away, paying any final fees.
Here are some eligible EVs for a Chevrolet EV lease:
- 2024 and 2025 Blazer EV
- 2024 Equinox EV
- 2024 and 2025 Silverado EV
Leasing can also save you money on sales tax, depending on where you live. Additionally, some leases require no down payment, or even allow you to bundle negative equity into a short-term lease at a lower rate.
Lease Interest and Rates
Lease interest and rates can be a bit tricky to understand, but it's essential to know what you're getting into when signing a lease agreement.
The lease rate, also known as the "lease money factor", is the interest you pay on a car lease loan. It's the cost of leasing the car that reimburses the leasing company or dealership for the car's depreciation.
Your credit score determines your lease money factor, often expressed as a decimal instead of a percentage, like an annual percentage rate (APR) found on a car loan.
Dealerships and leasing companies are not required to disclose your money factor, but you can ask them to share this information with you before signing the lease agreement.
You can calculate interest on a lease by determining the money factor, which can be converted to the equivalent interest rate by multiplying it by 2,400. For instance, a money factor of 0.003 equals 7.2% APR.
To find your lease interest rate, you can look for it in your lease agreement, or use the formula Lease Factor = Lease Charge / (Capitalized Costs + Residual Value) x Lease Term.
Here's a formula to find the lease factor:
- Lease Charge: $12,000
- Capitalized Costs: $52,500
- Residual Value: $42,000
- Lease Term: 24 months
Using this formula, you can calculate the lease factor, which in this case is 0.0053, equivalent to a 12.72% APR.
Lease rates can vary depending on the leasing company and dealership, but historically, they have mirrored the national average interest rate for new car loans.
Lowering Monthly Costs
Reducing your monthly payment is definitely possible with a GM lease. By taking advantage of conquest and membership incentives, you can lower your payment significantly. For example, a $1,500 conquest incentive can reduce your payment from $379 to $315.03, and a $1,000 Costco member rebate can drop it further to $272.37.
Lower monthly payments are one of the benefits of leasing a car. You're only paying for the depreciation that occurs during the lease term, so your payments are almost always lower than if you were buying a car. This means you can get a nicer car or afford a few extra options for the same monthly payments as you would have if you were buying.
A lease rate, or the "lease money factor", is the interest you pay on a car lease loan. Your credit score determines your lease money factor, which can be expressed as a decimal instead of a percentage. You can ask your dealership or leasing company to share this information with you before signing the lease agreement.
To get a lower lease rate, you can consider putting down money on the lease. Some leasing companies will offer "multiple security deposits", or MSDs, which can lower your financial risk and effectively lower your lease rate. However, keep in mind that you may not get your down payment back if the car is totaled or stolen, so it's essential to weigh the pros and cons before making a decision.
Here are some examples of how different incentives can lower your monthly payment:
- $1,500 Conquest Incentive: Reduces the payment from $379 to $315.03.
- $1,000 Costco Member Rebate: Drops it further to $272.37.
- For 15,000 miles/year: Payment adjusts to $359.44 with both incentives.
Calculating Lease Costs
The money factor is a crucial component in determining your lease costs. It's essentially the interest rate of your lease, and it's usually expressed as a factor of 1,000. For example, a 0.003 lease rate equates to 3.0 as a factor of 1,000.
To find your lease interest rate, you can use the formula: Lease Factor = Lease Charge / (Capitalized Costs + Residual Value) x Lease Term. This formula can help you determine the fairness of your lease money factor, given your financial situation.
A money factor of 0.003 equals 7.2% APR, which is a relatively high interest rate. In comparison, a money factor of 0.0053 equals 12.72%, which is a hefty money factor for a lease agreement.
Lease interest rates have historically mirrored the national average interest rate for new car loans. However, with the automotive industry's fluctuations in inventory numbers and consumer spending habits, this is no longer the case.
To calculate your monthly lease payment, you need to determine the monthly depreciation, monthly interest charge, and monthly tax amount. The monthly depreciation is calculated by dividing the capitalized cost by the lease term. For example, a lease with a capitalized cost of $5,500 and a lease term of 36 months would have a monthly depreciation of $152.78.
To calculate the monthly interest charge, you multiply the capitalized cost and residual value by the money factor. For example, a lease with a capitalized cost of $18,000, residual value of $12,500, and a money factor of 0.0025 would have a monthly interest charge of $76.25.
Here's a breakdown of the steps to calculate your lease costs:
- Calculate the monthly depreciation
- Calculate the monthly interest charge
- Calculate the monthly tax amount
- Add the monthly depreciation, monthly interest charge, and monthly tax amount to determine the monthly lease payment
By understanding how to calculate your lease costs, you can make informed decisions about your lease agreement and negotiate the best possible terms.
Leased Cars and Interest
You pay interest on a leased car because leasing companies and dealerships must make a profit. Unlike car finance deals, lease agreements require lessees to compensate dealerships for the opportunity to lease a car without taking on the costs of ownership or the burden of disposing of the car once the lease agreement ends.
Lease agreements allow the dealership or leasing company to profit from the loss in value of the car over time. This is the same reason you pay to rent equipment, whether it's a set of golf clubs, bowling shoes, or tools.
The interest rate on a lease is expressed as a money factor, which is a decimal value. You can convert the money factor to an equivalent interest rate by multiplying it by 2,400. For instance, a money factor of 0.003 equals 7.2% APR.
To find your lease interest rate, you can locate it in your lease agreement. Sometimes, lease interest rates are expressed as a factor of 1,000. A 0.003 lease rate equates to 3.0 as a factor of 1,000.
You can also derive the money factor from your lease using formulas like the one in Example 3: Lease Factor = Lease Charge / (Capitalized Costs + Residual Value) x Lease Term.
To give you a better idea of how lease interest rates work, here's a breakdown of the lease factor formula:
- Lease charge: The total remaining payments on the lease.
- Capitalized costs: The vehicle's selling price.
- Residual value: The value of the car at the end of the lease.
- Lease term: The length of the lease in months.
For example, if your lease agreement has a lease charge of $12,000, capitalized costs of $52,500, residual value of $42,000, and a lease term of 24 months, your lease factor would be:
Lease Factor = $12,000 / ($52,500 + $42,000) x 24 = 0.0053
This lease factor equates to an equivalent interest rate of 12.72% APR.
Sources
- https://forums.edmunds.com/discussion/69494/chevrolet/blazer/help-me-understand-the-lease
- https://www.bettenbakeralma.com/buying-vs-leasing.htm
- https://www.donohoochevrolet.com/blogs/3987/
- https://www.calculator.net/auto-lease-calculator.html
- https://www.finn.com/en-DE/blog/leasing/do-leases-have-interest
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