Two inputs that decide your buyout math, explained on video

Is buying out your lease a good deal? Two minutes with a calculator answers it better than an hour of opinions. Here is what to plug in.

Input one: your payoff — residual plus any remaining amounts, from your leasing company. Input two: your car's real market value from actual quotes, not wishful listings.

The calculator shows the gap — your equity, positive or negative — and your estimated monthly payment at your rate and term. Suddenly the decision has edges.

Don't forget the add-ons: sales tax on the buyout, title and doc fees. Good calculators include them — because they're the difference between paper equity and real equity.

The free lease buyout calculator at championautofinance dot com runs the whole picture — and when the math looks good, financing is one application away, subject to lender approval.