Due at Signing
Also known as: DAS, Drive-Off Amount, Amount Due at Signing, Lease Down Payment
Due at signing (DAS) is the total upfront payment required when signing a car lease. It includes the first month's payment, down payment (if any), acquisition fee, taxes, registration, and dealer fees.
How Due at Signing Works
DAS is often misunderstood. A "$0 down" lease advertisement does NOT mean $0 due at signing — you still owe the first month's payment, acquisition fee, registration, and taxes. True "$0 DAS" deals are rare. To calculate effective monthly cost, divide total DAS by the lease term and add it to the monthly payment. For example, $3,000 DAS on a 36-month lease adds $83/month to the true cost.
Example
Advertised: $399/mo with $2,999 due at signing. True monthly cost = $399 + ($2,999 / 36) = $399 + $83 = $482/month effective. A competing offer of $449/mo with $0 DAS is actually cheaper.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is included in due at signing?
Due at signing typically includes: first month's payment, any cap cost reduction (down payment), acquisition fee (if not rolled in), registration and title fees, dealer doc fee, and applicable taxes. Each component may be negotiable separately.
Should I put money down on a lease?
Financial experts generally advise against large down payments on leases. If the car is totaled or stolen, you lose the down payment — GAP insurance only covers the remaining lease balance, not your upfront cash. Instead, negotiate a lower cap cost to reduce the monthly payment.
What does $0 down lease mean?
A "$0 down" lease means no cap cost reduction (no down payment applied to the lease balance). However, you still owe first month's payment, acquisition fee, registration, taxes, and dealer fees at signing. Always ask for the total "due at signing" amount, not just the down payment.
Related Lease Terms
An acquisition fee is a one-time charge by the leasing company to originate the lease, typically $595-$1,095.
Capitalized CostThe capitalized cost is the total amount being financed in a lease — the lease equivalent of a purchase price.
Lease CashLease cash is a manufacturer incentive that reduces the capitalized cost of a lease, lowering the monthly payment.
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