Depending on your mileage plan, term length, and down payment, leasing a Ford Escape SE could cost you an average of anywhere between $343 and $490 a month.

Leasing a Ford Escape SE can get you behind the wheel of this practical and powerful vehicle without committing to a traditional

car loan

Leasing offers drivers the best years of a vehicle’s life without having to worry about the frequent repairs and high maintenance costs that come along with owning an aging model. While the end-of-lease process is a bit involved, you’ll be rewarded with an overall lower monthly payment when leasing compared to buying.

But how do you find the Ford Escape SE lease that’s right for you? Here to answer that question is

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In this step-by-step guide, we’ll go over everything you need to know about leasing a Ford Escape SE—from how much you can expect to pay to the ins and outs of how leases work to your options at the end of your lease agreement. Later, we'll throw in some tips for saving money on your

Ford Escape SE insurance costs

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* checking your rate won’t affect your credit score

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How to lease a Ford Escape SE

Leasing a Ford Escape SE is a fairly straightforward process, but if you’re worried about the details, following this checklist will help you feel confident that you’re getting the best deal on a lease.

Check your credit score. Having a

good credit score

is going to make leasing or financing a car 10 times easier. As a general rule, any credit score below 630 isn’t ideal. If you can, work on improving your credit before leasing—a score of at least 650 will enable you to get the best deal on your lease.

Determine your budget. You shouldn’t commit to a lease agreement that you won’t be able to afford. We suggest only taking on lease payments that are less than 15% of your monthly income. So, if you make approximately $4,000 a month, you won’t want to allocate any more than $600 to your lease payments. Ideally, you’ll want to find a lease that is closer to 10% of your monthly income.

Estimate your down payment. Starting off your lease with a sizable down payment, also known as a capitalized cost reduction, can lower your monthly payments for the duration of your lease. If you can put more money down up front, it may save you some cash in the long run.

Calculate your annual mileage. When leasing a Ford vehicle, you have the option to sign on for an annual mileage plan between 7,500 and 19,500 miles. If you have a particularly long commute or are planning a cross-country road trip, you’ll want to opt for a higher mileage plan to avoid additional fees for overages at the end of your lease.

Once you’ve completed these steps, it's time to visit your local Ford dealership! Working with a leasing agent, you’ll sit down and

compare lease offers

for a Ford Escape SE. Leasing agents will likely try to talk you into potentially expensive add-ons, so you should have a set budget in mind before visiting the dealership to avoid overspending.

The final step: shop for insurance

So, you’ve leased a Ford Escape SE! What’s next? You’ll want to protect your prized possession with the best insurance coverage possible—and your dealer will want the same. You'll likely be required to carry what's called "

full-coverage car insurance

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How much does a Ford Escape SE lease cost?

On average, you can expect to pay between $343 and $490 a month to lease a Ford Escape SE.

However, your exact monthly payment will depend on your mileage plan, your lease term length, and your down payment. Additionally, your credit score and location can also affect the cost to lease a Ford Escape SE.

In terms of mileage, if you don’t drive that far or that often, opting for a 7,500 annual miles plan is going to save you money over a 19,500 annual miles plan. To note, most Americans drive around 14,200 miles per year per the Federal Highway Administration.

Let’s break down how you can expect your monthly payment and the amount due at signing to change depending on your mileage plan for a 2022 Ford Escape SE. Keep in mind that these estimates assume a $2,500 down payment, as well as a 36-month lease agreement.

Mileage plan	Monthly payment	Amount due at signing
7,500	$363	$2,863
10,500	$371	$2,871
12,000	$378	$2,878
13,500	$386	$2,886
15,000	$394	$2,894
16,500	$401	$2,901
18,000	$409	$2,909
19,500	$416	$2,916

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* checking your rate won’t affect your credit score

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* checking your rate won’t affect your credit score

Another major factor you’ll want to take into consideration when calculating your monthly payments for a 2022 Escape SE lease is the length of your lease. A typical vehicle lease is 36 months long; however, Ford offers drivers four different term length options: 24 months, 36 months, 39 months, and 48 months.

Let’s have a look at how your lease length can affect your monthly payment and the amount due at signing. This time we’ll assume you’re opting for a 15,000-mile plan and making a $2,500 down payment.

Lease term	Monthly payment	Amount due at signing
24 months	$404	$2,904
36 months	$394	$2,894
39 months	$380	$2,880
48 months	$422	$2,922

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* checking your rate won’t affect your credit score

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* checking your rate won’t affect your credit score

Be aware that you’ll have to pay a $1,245 Destination and Delivery charge, as well as a $645 Acquisition Fee for your Ford Escape SE lease.

MORE:

Is it better to lease or buy a car?

Services included in a Ford Escape SE lease

Any time you lease a Ford vehicle, you’ll be entitled to

Ford Credit

. This program covers the costs of normal wear and use on your leased Escape SE.

While Ford Credit covers the costs for normal wear and use, it does not protect against any excess wear and use. Let’s take a look at what Ford considers normal and excess in terms of wear and use:

Damage	Normal wear and use	Excess wear and use
Scratches	3 per panel with a diameter of less than 4 inches	4 or more per panel or any with a diameter greater than 4 inches
Glass	No glass damage	Any glass damage
Lenses	Minor scuffs and scratches	Cracked or broken
Tires	No sidewall damage or exposed belts/cords	Any sidewall damage or exposed belts/cords

You can find more information on the Ford Credit plan by downloading their

Wear and Use Evaluator Card and Guidelines

MORE:

Basic car maintenance schedule

What to do when your Ford Escape SE lease is up

Generally speaking, you have three options when your Ford lease comes to an end:

Lease a new Ford (either a newer Escape or a different model)

Return your Escape SE

Purchase your Escape SE

How to return a leased Ford Escape SE

If you’ve decided that you’re ready to say goodbye to your Escape SE at the end of your lease, you’ll have to contact your original dealer to go over the return process in detail.

With your dealer, you’ll discuss your return options in addition to having an open discussion about your Escape’s mileage and any excess wear and use that might need to be repaired. At the end of your meeting, you’ll schedule an appointment to return your Ford.

Before you return your SUV, you’ll want to consider making any final repairs that might qualify as excessive wear and use to avoid additional charges at the end of your lease. While Ford typically covers $5,000 worth of excess wear and use charges, if you think you’re going to exceed that amount, you may want to go about scheduling the repairs independently.

Finally, you’ll need to return your Ford Escape SE. Upon bringing your vehicle back to the dealership you’ll be required to satisfy any remaining financial obligations to finalize the return. Additionally, you’ll have to fill out some quick paperwork, including your odometer statement and your vehicle return transaction statement.

How to purchase a leased Ford Escape SE

If you’d prefer to hang on to your Ford Escape SE beyond the terms of your lease, you will likely be able to buy out your lease and work toward financing the vehicle instead. To do this, you’ll need to request a payoff quote from Ford Credit Customer Support or call 1-800-727-7000.

MORE:

The top 10 cheapest trucks to insure

How to find the best car insurance for a Ford Escape SE lease

Whether you’re leasing or financing, having the best possible car insurance to protect your investment is a must. But how can you get the coverage you need without breaking the bank? With the

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Still not sold? Jerry users save an average of over $800 a year on car insurance payments.

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