Plain-language explainers for the numbers on a car deal. General education — not advice about a specific contract.
The Deal Sticker
A Deal Sticker is a plain-language summary of what a deal actually costs — a nutrition label for a lease or loan.
- True all-in monthly = the payment plus every upfront dollar spread across the term.
- Due at signing should be itemized: first payment, taxes, acquisition fee, DMV, doc fee — not one round number.
- In New York, sales tax on a lease is charged on the whole lease up front, not added to each monthly payment.
The money factor
The money factor is the financing rate on a lease, written as a tiny decimal.
- Multiply the money factor by 2400 to get the rough APR equivalent (0.0017 ≈ 4.1%).
- There's a 'buy rate' from the lender and a marked-up rate the dealer may quote — ask which you're getting.
- A move of 0.0004 is roughly $20 a month on a typical deal.
Fees & add-ons
Some fees are standard; others are padding.
- Standard: acquisition fee, documentation fee, DMV/registration, disposition fee at lease-end.
- Often padding: dealer add-ons like nitrogen fill, cross rails, trays, mats, and 'kits.'
- Every add-on also raises the taxable amount, so junk costs more than its sticker price.
These are general explainers, not advice about any specific deal or contract.