What is a Lease Acquisition Fee? Is It Negotiable?
An acquisition fee ($595-$1,295) is a legitimate bank charge on car leases. It is NOT negotiable. Learn what it covers and typical amounts by brand.
An Acquisition Fee (bank fee) is a legitimate lease charge from the financing company, typically $595-$1,295. This fee is set by the manufacturer's captive finance company (like BMW Financial or Toyota Financial), not the dealer. It is not negotiable and should not be confused with junk fees.
Verdict: Legitimate
$595 - $1,295
What the Acquisition Fee Covers
- • Underwriting costs: Credit evaluation and risk assessment
- • Lease origination: Account setup and documentation
- • Administrative overhead: Finance company operations
Acquisition Fees by Brand (2026)
Mainstream Brands
| Brand | Lender | Fee | Markup? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Honda | HFS | $595 | No |
| Subaru | SMF / Chase | $595–$650 | No |
| Ford | Ford Credit | $695 | No |
| Chevy / GMC / Buick / Cadillac | GM Financial | $650 | No |
| Nissan | NMAC | $695 | No |
| Hyundai / Kia | HMF / KFA | $695 | No |
| Tesla | Tesla Finance | $695 | No |
| Volkswagen | VW Credit | $699 | No |
| Toyota | TFS | $750 | No |
| Mazda | MFS / TFS | $750 | No |
| Jeep / Ram / Dodge | CCAP / SFS | $595–$1,295 | Yes |
Luxury Brands
| Brand | Lender | Fee | Markup? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acura | AFS | $595 | No |
| Infiniti | IFS | $700 | No |
| Genesis | Genesis Finance | $750 | No |
| Lexus | LFS | $700–$995 | Yes |
| Mercedes-Benz | MBFS | $795–$1,095 | Yes |
| Lincoln | Ford Credit | $825 | No |
| Rivian | Chase | $895 | No |
| Audi | VW Credit | $895 | No |
| Land Rover / Jaguar | Chase (LRFG/JFG) | $895–$1,095 | Yes |
| BMW / MINI | BMW FS | $925 | No |
| Volvo / Polestar | VCFS | $995 | No |
| Porsche | PFS | $1,095 | No |
Mercedes-Benz, Lexus, Land Rover, Jaguar, and Stellantis brands (Jeep/Ram/Dodge) allow dealers to mark up the acquisition fee above the base rate. Always ask: "What is the base acquisition fee from the lender?" and compare it to what appears on your contract.
While the acquisition fee itself is not negotiable, you can negotiate whether it's paid upfront vs. rolled into the cap cost. Paying upfront saves you the rent charge on that amount over the entire lease term.