A private lease at €550 a month over 48 months costs €26,400 and about €0.44 per km at 15,000 km a year. Buying the same €35,000 car, selling it for €15,000 and paying €2,500 a year in running costs comes to roughly €34,600, or about €0.58 per km, excluding fuel.
What is private lease?
Private lease is a rental-style car contract for consumers: you pay a fixed monthly price for a set term, usually 24 to 60 months, and it covers depreciation, road tax (MRB), insurance, maintenance, tyres and often a replacement car. You pay for fuel or charging. At the end you return the car. It became popular in the Netherlands because the monthly price is known and no large amount is needed to start.
Is private lease cheaper than buying?
Often, but it depends on the car and the way you drive. The lessor buys cars in bulk, gets favourable insurance and maintenance rates, and spreads depreciation across a large fleet. These advantages can beat what a private buyer achieves on a new car. On the other hand, you pay the lessor’s margin and your kilometres are capped. Once you buy a used car and keep it long, the cost per km falls below any lease. The calculator shows which side wins for your inputs and how it changes with kilometres.
How to read the result
- Depreciation is usually the largest cost of owning, so a realistic resale value matters most.
- Financing interest uses an average balance of about 55% of the price. If you buy with cash, your cost is lost savings interest, which you can estimate with the compound interest calculator.
- Running costs include insurance, road tax, maintenance, tyres and the APK test. A €2,500 yearly figure is reasonable for a mid-size petrol car.
What to check in the contract
Look at the excess-km price, damage rules, early termination, the deductible on insurance and who pays for tyre replacement. If you are an employee with a company car, the better comparison is the bijtelling calculator. For businesses, the operational lease calculator adds BTW. And if you prefer to own, the loan calculator shows the payment of a car loan.
How to use this calculator
- Enter the monthly lease price, term and any deposit.
- Add your yearly kilometres.
- Enter the buying price, expected resale value and your yearly running costs for the same car.
- Compare total and per-km cost, then check the details of what the lease includes.
Key figures at a glance
| Includes | Depreciation, MRB, insurance, maintenance, tyres |
|---|---|
| Excludes | Fuel or charging, fines, parking |
| Typical terms | 24 to 60 months |
| Biggest variable | Resale value and kilometres |
Frequently asked questions
Normally depreciation, road tax, insurance, maintenance, tyres and a replacement car. Fuel and charging are your own cost.
It is worth it if you value a fixed cost and no capital outlay. If you keep cars for many years and drive a lot, buying a good used car is usually cheaper.
You never own the car, you pay for excess kilometres, and ending early can be expensive.
No. Private lease is a consumer expense and not tax deductible.
You pay a per-km fee, often 5 to 12 cents, on the excess when the contract ends.