What “Acquisition fee” means
The acquisition fee is the leasing company’s charge for originating the lease: running credit, setting up the account and processing documents. As of 2026, it commonly runs from around $600 to a little over $1,000, depending on the brand.
The base fee is set by the leasing company, but some allow the dealer to add a markup on top. It is also separate from the dealer’s own doc fee.
How it shows up at the dealership
It may be listed as “bank fee,” “lease fee” or bundled into “due at signing.” Ask what the leasing company’s published fee is for your brand, and whether the number on your worksheet matches.
Worked example · illustrative numbers, not a quote
Paying a $695 fee up front vs rolling it in
| Paid at signing | $695 |
| Rolled into the cap cost (36 months, money factor 0.00180) | about $20.56/mo |
| Total if rolled in | about $740 |
Rolling it in costs a little rent charge but keeps cash in your pocket if the car is totaled early.
What to do
- Ask for the acquisition fee amount and check it against the brand’s standard fee.
- Push back on any markup over the base fee.
- Decide whether to pay it up front or roll it in; the difference is small.
What to say
“Is $995 the leasing company’s standard acquisition fee for this brand, or is it marked up? I’ll pay the base fee.”
Also called: bank fee, lease initiation fee, lease inception fee.