If you are faced with the question of whether you want to lease or buy a vehicle, the amount of the monthly leasing rate is also a factor that ultimately influences the decision. We tell you how the rate is composed, how it is calculated and answer other questions about leasing calculators.
⏰ Summary
- The amount of the leasing instalment depends on various factors
- The loss of value of the car is also included
- The higher the residual value, the lower the rate
- Calculating the rate is very simple
- The rate should be adjusted to your income
If you're already thinking about leasing a new car and want to look around for the right vehicle, here are our top leasing deals for you (as of May 2025):
| Model | Offers from | |
| Seat Leon | 107 € / month | Compare leasing offers |
| Opel Mokka | 119 € / month | Compare leasing offers |
| Fiat 600 Hybrid | 121 € / month | Compare leasing offers |
| Skoda Karoq Sportline | 198 € / month | Compare leasing offers |
| VW T-Roc | 149€ / month | Compare leasing offers |
Amount of the leasing instalment: The factors
In order to calculate the leasing rate, the car dealership and the leasing bank include various factors in the calculation with a car leasing calculator. In addition to the factors listed below, there is also the possibility of so-called full-service leasing. If you opt for this option, you will of course have a much higher rate, because it is an all-round carefree package. With commercial leasing, the leasing rate is usually cheaper than with private leasing due to certain factors.
If you want to try leasing for the first time and are not sure whether you can pay the monthly installments in the long run, then short-term leasing may be the right idea for you. And if you want to keep as many options open as possible, Vario-Leasing is the right choice. You have to decide for yourself whether Vario leasing or leasing suits you better.
With a classic car lease, the process is different, the leasing rates cannot be determined in advance.
For a classic lease, however, the following criteria are decisive for the calculation of the lease:
1. Deposit and special payment
A deposit may be required, but not every provider insists on it. The advantage of a down payment – also known as a special payment – is that the vehicle price of the leased vehicle is reduced and the monthly instalment is therefore also lower. If you want to sell an old vehicle, you can also ask the dealership if the car can be purchased and the price can be used as a down payment for leasing. In addition, a special payment may also be necessary if you do not fully meet the requirements for leasing.
Leasing without a down payment naturally saves you money that you can use elsewhere. However, the leasing calculator will then charge you a higher monthly rate.
2. Selected vehicle model and price
The most important thing is your desired vehicle, because the more expensive the vehicle, the higher the leasing rate. A small car leasing will therefore certainly cost less than a sports car leasing or a convertible leasing. In addition, it also depends on what basic equipment the vehicle comes with, because if it is particularly high-quality and exclusive, this is also included in the rate. Therefore, think about it beforehand and consult a car leasing cost calculator.
If your leasing application has been rejected, you can certainly try again with a cheaper vehicle and less monthly rate.
3. Contract Term
How long you want to lease your vehicle depends on you, of course - but the lessor has usually already specified certain terms, between which you have to decide. If you lease a new vehicle, you should not choose leasing periods that are too short, because the depreciation in the first year is high and those who only lease for a short time will pay more in the end. However, leasing for too long does not make sense either. If you lease longer, the monthly instalment will be lower, but this could lead you to believe that you are losing value.
4. Interest rate
The lessor decides how high the interest rate is. As a rule, you don't find out how this interest rate is composed. However, this usually includes a share of the profits, administrative costs and a surcharge for the risk of not being able to sell the leased vehicle at the end of the term. However, there are sometimes limited offers that advertise leasing without interest, the so-called 0% leasing. A leasing calculator can only give you an interest rate as an example, it is better to have the lessor calculate an example directly.
5. Optional equipment
Think carefully about which optional equipment you want to have installed in your vehicle, because if it is particularly expensive or unusual equipment for this type of vehicle, you will pay a high price for the equipment itself and the leasing rate will also be correspondingly higher. In addition, the lessor charges a higher interest rate if he assumes that the car with this equipment will be difficult to sell again later.
Leasingrate berechnen
Komplett bis auf den letzten Cent kannst du die Leasingrate selbst nicht berechnen, doch eine Formel für die Leasing-Berechnung gibt dir auf jeden Fall eine gute Richtung, in welcher Höhe sich die monatliche Rate befindet. Die Formel zur Berechnung der Leasingrate ist folgende:
(Kaufpreis – Restwert) / Laufzeit + [(Kaufpreis + Restwert) /12] x monatl. Zinssatz
Das hört sich erstmal kompliziert an, doch wir gehen Schritt für Schritt mit dir durch die Formel.
Im ersten Teil der Rechnung geht es um die durchschnittliche Abschreibung über die gesamte Laufzeit hinweg. Deinen Kaufpreis kennst du ja und der Restwert wird am Anfang des Leasingvertrags festgelegt. Hier werden alle möglichen Risiken abgeschätzt und danach ein realistischer Wert ermittelt, den das Fahrzeug nach Ablauf der Leasingzeit noch wert ist.
Im zweiten Teil der Rechnung geht es um die Zinsen. Diese werden wie beschrieben ermittelt und zeigen an, welche Zinsen im Laufe der Leasingzeit anfallen werden. Durch 12 geteilt erhältst du die monatliche Belastung. Die gesamte Formel gibt also an, wie hoch die durchschnittliche Abschreibung ist und wie hoch die Zinsen. Diese beiden Werte zusammen ergeben deine Leasingrate.
Wenn du im Zusammenhang mit Leasingangeboten auch schon mal über das Wort Leasingfaktor gestolpert bist, musst du nicht verwirrt sein. Der Leasingfaktor dient als Vergleichsfaktor für Leasingangebote und kann eine Entscheidungshilfe darstellen.
Beispielrechnung:
Damit die Rechnung nicht so abstrakt bleibt, zeigen wir dir anhand eines Beispiels wie die Leasingrate berechnet werden kann. Die Bedingungen sind folgende:
- Anschaffungspreis: 30.000 Euro
- Laufzeit: 48 Monate
- Keine Anzahlung
- Interest rate: 3 %
- Residual value: 40% of the purchase price, i.e. 12,000 euros
Accordingly, the calculation in this specific example is
(€30,000 – €12,000) / 48 + [(€30,000 + €12,000) x 0.03/12
Depreciation: (€30,000 – €12,000) / 48 = €375
Interest: (€30,000 + €12,000) x 0.003/12 = €105
Total cost: 375 € + 105 € = 480 €
For our example car chosen here with the above conditions, a monthly leasing rate of 480 euros would therefore have to be paid.
What does residual value mean in leasing?
The residual value is calculated individually in the case of so-called residual value leasing. The model, the selected equipment, the term and the level of risk of being able to sell the car well in the end play a role here. From these factors, a residual value is determined in the contract at the beginning of the lease, which is to apply at the end of the term.
How high should the leasing rate be?
This cannot be said in general, because you have to tailor it individually to your needs and your wallet. If you need a lot of space, i.e. a large car, but can't spend that much money, it makes sense to weigh things up carefully. Maybe a station wagon is cheaper than the SUV you would have chosen? Don't be tempted by leasing rates that are too cheap, because it may be that either a high down payment has been included or a large residual value is created in the end.
Does car leasing make sense for private individuals?
In addition to commercial leasing, many leasing contracts are now concluded with private individuals. A common reason is that a new car only wants to be driven for a certain period of time. You don't have to worry about the sale, because the return has already been agreed. Everyone has to decide for themselves whether private leasing makes sense, because it is of course a monthly burden over a longer period of time.
How long should you lease?
This question is not so easy to answer, because of course it is your decision how long you want to keep a vehicle. From an economic point of view, it does not make sense to take out a lease for only 12 months, because the loss of value is highest in the first year. Leasing contracts are usually concluded for 36 or 48 months. Longer periods of time often do not make sense either, because the vehicle may then no longer have the value for which you pay the installment – the ratio is no longer right.