The "Unicorn" Deal Hunter
Leasing is confusing on purpose. The Leasehackr Score cuts through the noise of Money Factors and Residuals to answer one simple question: "Am I getting a good deal?"
The 1% Rule (Mental Math)
Here is the shortcut: Take the car's MSRP and move the decimal two spots to the left. That is your target monthly payment (with $0 down).
Example: $50,000 MSRP → Target $500/mo.
If the quote is $700, walk away. If it's $450, sign the papers.
The Score Formula
The score represents Years of Payments to Pay Off the Car.
Score = MSRP / (Annual Cost)
A score of 10 means "It would take 10 years of these lease payments to buy this car." Since cars depreciate faster than that, this is a great deal for you.
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🦄
10+ Years (Unicorn): Incredible value. Often found on EVs with massive rebates or loaner cars.
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✅
8-10 Years (Good): A solid, negotiable deal. Aim for this on most mass-market cars.
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❌
Under 6 Years (Run): You are paying way too much. Buy used instead.
Lease Score FAQ
EVs often have inflated MSRPs but massive rebates ($7,500 tax credit passed as lease cash). This artificially boosts the score because the MSRP (numerator) is high while the payment (denominator) is low.
Yes, we calculate the "Effective Monthly Cost" which includes your down payment, taxes, and fees spread over the term. This is the only way to fairly compare deals.