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downlyHow we estimate

How we estimate our lease vs buy numbers

Straight answer: the numbers on our lease-vs-buy pages are national-average estimates to help you understand the trade-off — not a price anyone's promising you. Here's exactly what goes into them, so you can weigh them with clear eyes and then see the real numbers for a specific car.
What our numbers assume
We start from national averages, not a quoteEvery figure on our lease-vs-buy pages is a national-average estimate meant to help you decide — never a price you'll be offered. Your real numbers depend on the exact car, your area, and the day you shop, so we always send you to a specific car for its live numbers.
A typical new car around $40,000On the main guide, "a typical new car" means one priced near $40,000 — a stand-in for the average new car so the story stays concrete. Pick a real car and we use that car's own price instead.
A 3-year lease vs a longer loanWe compare a 3-year lease against a typical car loan, because that's the most common way people lease and buy. Naming both lengths keeps the comparison honest — a lease costs less in total partly because it's a shorter commitment where you own nothing at the end.
The cash you keep grows in a car fundWhen leasing lets you put little or nothing down, we show what that kept cash could grow to if it sits in a car fund while you drive — the whole point of keeping your money working instead of locking it in the car.
Leasing's one honest catchOne honest catch: a lease caps how far you can drive each year — usually around 10,000–12,000 miles — so it fits best if your driving stays fairly steady. Go over and it's about 25¢ for each extra mile when you hand it back — roughly $250 for every 1,000 miles past the cap.
See it in real numbers

Averages are for understanding the choice — not for signing. The moment you have a car in mind, pick it to see its own monthly, the cash you'd keep free, and lease vs buy side by side. No sign-in needed.

Compare lease vs buy for any car

Questions about our numbers

Are Downly's lease-vs-buy numbers a real quote?

No. They're national-average estimates to help you understand the trade-off between leasing and buying — never a price you'll be offered. For real numbers, pick a specific car and see its live monthly, the cash you'd keep, and lease vs buy side by side. A national-average guide, not a quote.

What car do the 'typical new car' figures use?

They use a stand-in car priced near $40,000 — roughly the average new car — so the comparison stays concrete without naming a brand. Choose a real car and every figure switches to that car's own price.

How long a lease and loan do you compare?

We compare a 3-year lease against a typical car loan — the most common way people lease and buy. We always name both lengths, so a lease's smaller total is never mistaken for a free lunch: it's a shorter commitment where you own nothing at the end.

Why does Downly suggest putting $0 down?

Money down lowers the monthly a little but doesn't lower what the car costs — and if the car is totaled or stolen early, that up-front cash is generally gone. Keeping it in your own car fund protects you if plans change and lets it keep growing. A national-average guide, not financial advice.

Ready to weigh it for your next car? Read the complete lease vs buy guide.

Reviewed July 2026. National-average guidance, not a quote or financial advice.