What is an acquisition fee on a car lease?
The acquisition (or 'bank') fee covers the leasing company's cost to originate your lease. It's usually $595–$995 and is either paid up front or rolled into the cap cost (where it also accrues finance charges).
Why it matters
Standard on nearly every lease and largely fixed by the leasing bank.
What dealers don't tell you
- The fee being marked up above the bank's standard amount.
- It being rolled into the cap cost, where you pay finance charges on it.
How to negotiate it
- Ask for the bank's standard acquisition fee and confirm it isn't marked up.
- Pay it up front rather than rolling it into the lease if you can.
Worked example
"An acquisition fee of $695 is due at lease signing." Rolling it into the lease means paying interest on it too.
See this term in your own car lease
Paste your car lease into Lease Checker and get a plain-English, term-by-term breakdown with red flags highlighted. Free — 3 AI checks a day with a free account.
Explain my car leaseFrequently asked questions
Is the acquisition fee negotiable?
The base fee is set by the bank and rarely negotiable, but you can make sure the dealer hasn't marked it up.