Documents to Review Before Signing a Car Lease (Checklist)
The lease contract is where the dealer's verbal promises become binding — or vanish. A focused review of a handful of boxes prevents the surprises that show up at turn-in.
Key takeaways
- Verify selling price, money factor, and residual match your quote.
- Confirm mileage allowance, fees, and wear terms in writing.
- Keep the delivery inspection sheet to dispute pre-existing damage.
- Never sign until the numbers on paper match what you agreed.
The boxes that decide your payment
Every closed-end lease agreement lays out the same core figures: capitalized cost (selling price), residual value, money factor, term, and mileage allowance. Before signing, confirm each matches your written quote. A changed money factor or a padded cap cost is easy to miss once you are in the finance office.
The fee and condition terms
- Acquisition and disposition fees — exact amounts and waiver conditions.
- Excess mileage rate per mile and total annual allowance.
- Excess wear-and-tear guideline reference.
- Any add-ons (maintenance, waiver) you did or did not agree to.
- Purchase option price (the residual) for end-of-term.
The delivery inspection sheet
Note every pre-existing scratch, dent, and stain on the condition report at lease start and keep a copy. At return, that sheet is your proof a flaw was there before you — and it stops the lessor from billing you for it.
Numbers vs the verbal promise
If the finance manager says "don't worry, that's included," it must be on the paper. Verbal promises about waived fees or extra miles mean nothing at turn-in. Match the contract to your quote line by line; if they differ, stop and renegotiate. This discipline underpins every guide here, from <a href="/guides/negotiate-better-car-lease-deal-tips">negotiation</a> to <a href="/guides/excess-damage-leased-car-return-rules">return damage</a>.
Before you hand over the keys
Take a photo of the odometer and the condition report, save the contract PDF, and set a calendar reminder for the pre-return inspection at month 30. Small habits now prevent four-figure bills later. Our <a href="/calculators/lease-payment/">lease payment calculator</a> is a good gut-check against the signed payment.
Frequently asked questions
What should I check in a lease agreement?+
Are verbal promises enforceable on a lease?+
Why keep the delivery inspection sheet?+
Can I back out after signing?+
Calculate monthly car lease payments including depreciation, interest, taxes, and fees.
Related guides
How to Negotiate a Better Car Lease: The Order That Actually Works
The monthly payment is the last number you discuss, not the first. Negotiate the selling price like a purchase, demand the money factor and residual in writing, then shop the same car across lenders.
Excess Damage at Lease Return: The Thresholds That Trigger a Bill
Return damage is measured against standardized guidelines, not the dealer's mood. Small dings pass; big dents, tears, and bald tires get billed — often at steep rates.
Lease Acquisition and Disposition Fees: Can You Dodge Them?
Two fees sit at opposite ends of every lease: the acquisition fee upfront and the disposition fee at return. One is sometimes waivable, the other is avoidable if you buy the car.