Leasing a Mazda is a great alternative to financing if you’re not quite ready to buy—but to avoid hidden costs in the long run, it’s important to learn the ins and outs of leasing before you sign any papers.

If you’re looking for all the perks of driving a car but aren't interested in the expenses and upkeep costs, leasing a car may be for you. When you lease a car, you’re getting a brand-new, and sometimes even fully-loaded, car for significantly lower monthly payments and fewer upfront fees than you would if you were buying or financing the car. Plus, you don’t need a car loan.

However, a lease doesn't come without its drawbacks. You’re subject to more restrictions and you’re required to pay for convenience and depreciation rather than the actual value of the car.

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is here to walk you through everything you need to know about leasing a Mazda. We’ll cover the leasing process, costs and included services, and what your options are when your lease agreement is up—plus, how you can save hundreds on your

Mazda insurance costs

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How to lease a Mazda

Getting a lease on a Mazda is a pretty simple process, but it involves more than just picking the car you want and signing the lease agreement. If you’ve already weighed the pros and cons of leasing a car and are wondering how to do it, here’s our step-by-step guide to leasing a Mazda.

Check your credit score

. Most dealerships are looking for an above-average credit score. Scores over 660 are considered good.

Have a budget. While it can be tempting to go for the high-end models, have a budget in mind. Your monthly payment may be lower than financing, but you also have to factor in a possible downpayment, insurance, gas, maintenance, and more. Crunch some numbers before you head to the dealer so you’re not feeling financially squeezed. Ideally, you don’t want to pay more than 15% of your monthly income towards a car lease.

Find the right car. Finding the car that’s right for you is important! Are you looking for a family-sized SUV to tow the kids around? Or do you want a small, sporty car that’s good on gas? Determine your needs and find a suitable car. There are loads of online resources to help you choose the right Mazda for you.

Take it for a test drive. Once you’ve found the car you want to lease, take it out for a spin and make sure you like how it drives.

Consider your upfront costs. A downpayment on a Mazda may not be mandatory, but it can help to increase your chances of getting approved and reduce your monthly payments.

Calculate your annual mileage. If you’re someone who travels a lot for work or you have a long commute, you may want to consider getting a high-mileage lease that allows you to put more than 10,000 to 15,000 miles a year on your Mazda.

Once you’ve figured out your finances and have chosen the car you like, it’s time to take a look at Mazda’s

offers and incentives

at your local dealer. If you’re looking for a budget-friendly car with low monthly payments, consider the

Mazda 3 Hatchback

Mazda CX-30

, or

Mazda CX-5

If you have more room to play within your budget, check out the sporty

MX-5 Miata

Before you head to the dealership, think about the options you want on the car and be firm with your budget. Dealers are notorious for trying to upsell you into fancy features and expensive add-ons, which will have a huge impact on your monthly payments. Think about what’s necessary and what’s nice to have.

MORE: Is the Best-Selling 2021 Mazda MX-5 Miata a Good Car?

The final step: shop for insurance

Remember that your monthly payments don’t include car insurance. Once you’ve found the Mazda lease that fits within your budget, you’ll need to shop around for car insurance. Finding coverage that suits your needs at a reasonable price can be challenging, but Jerry helps make things easy!

All you need to do is download the Jerry app, answer a few questions, and in less than two minutes you’ll receive the most competitive quotes from 50+ of the best insurance companies.

MORE:

How to calculate a car lease payment

How much does a Mazda lease cost?

Leasing a Mazda often comes with cheaper monthly payments than financing does, but the exact amount will depend on several factors:

Model

Selling price

Lease term

Interest rates

Additional features

Acquisition fee

State sales tax

Available leasing offers and incentives

Lease takeover

Bi-weekly or monthly payments

Lease offers can change throughout the year. But if you have excellent credit, you can expect your monthly payment on a 36-month lease term to range from $353 for a Mazda CX-30 Select to $417 for a CX-5 2.5 S Select. On top of the base lease price, you’ll also have to factor in things like your downpayment and additional fees and taxes, which can increase the monthly payment price.

Here’s an example of the lease costs for a CX-5. You’ll pay about $427 a month and your upfront costs will include:

First month’s payment: $427

Downpayment: $1,000

Security deposit: $0

Acquisition fee: $650

To drive away from the dealership in a new CX-5, you’re looking at a total of $2,077 due at signing, which includes taxes and fees. If you’re looking to add additional features, expect the upfront cost and monthly payments to increase.

If you’re looking for a smaller car, you can walk away with a brand new Mazda 3 for an upfront fee of $2,116 or an MX-50 for $2,149.

Services included in a Mazda lease

One of the perks of leasing a Mazda is that most of your maintenance costs are covered for the duration of your lease term. All Mazdas come with the Mazda Unlimited Warranty. That means three-year New Vehicle, three-year Roadside Assistance, five-year Powertrain, and seven-year Anti-Perforation—all with unlimited mileage.

More information about what’s covered (and not covered) under your warranty can be found on

Mazda’s website

Key Takeaway Monthly lease payments on a Mazda are pretty affordable, ranging from $353 to $427, but you also must account for other expenses, like other upfront costs, additional features, and complimentary services.

MORE:

What to do when a car warranty isn’t honored

What to do when your Mazda lease is up

Once your Mazda lease term is up, you have one of two choices: return the vehicle or buy the car outright. If you decide not to purchase your car for the negotiated purchasing price, you may be subject to certain charges.

How to return a leased Mazda

When it comes time to return your Mazda, you’ll first need to contact your local dealership to arrange a date and time. Here’s what else you‘ll need to do:

Schedule a lease-end inspection: Within 45 days of your lease end, you’ll need to hire a third-party inspection company to inspect your vehicle. This will be free of charge for you. You will then receive a detailed condition report within 48 hours of the inspection that outlines the condition of your vehicle.

Repairs: If your vehicle needs any repairs, you can either contact your local Mazda dealer or have your vehicle repaired elsewhere. Another inspection will be required at your expense.

Mazda Appearance Protection: If you’ve purchased Mazda Appearance Protection, any wear and tear on your vehicle will be corrected before the final inspection takes place.

Returning your vehicle: When returning your vehicle to Mazda, ensure you’ve collected both sets of keys, the owner’s manual, and any accessories that came with your vehicle. Once you reach the dealership, you will be required to sign the Vehicle History Disclosure Statement and the Vehicle Return Receipt.

You may also be subject to certain charges upon return of your Mazda, such as:

Disposition (turn-in) fee: There is a $350 charge at lease termination for all Mazdas if you do not purchase the vehicle.

Excess mileage: If you exceed the mileage allowance disclosed in your lease agreement, you will be subject to a fee for each mile driven over the allotted amount.

Excess wear and use: Refer to your lease agreement for full details on the excess wear and use standards.

Other charges: There may be other charges due upon termination of your lease, including past due lease payments, unpaid late charges, sale or use taxes on certain charges, unpaid traffic citations billed to your account, and any personal property taxes due.

How to purchase a leased Mazda

If you’ve enjoyed riding in style and you’re not ready to let go of your Mazda just yet, you can purchase your vehicle outright if your lease agreement contains a purchase option. Your agreement will outline the purchase price and terms. Many leases also require you to pay a purchase option fee that is disclosed in the lease. Generally, your lessor will contact you within the last few months of your lease to explain your lease-end options and responsibilities.

MORE:

Is it better to lease or buy a car?

How to find affordable car insurance for a Mazda

Regardless of what Mazda you lease, having proper car insurance is essential to keep your car protected. That’s why

car insurance

comparison app and licensed broker

Jerry

helps you find the best coverage at the best rate for your Mazda.

And getting started is simple. Just download the app, answer some questions, and Jerry will search through 50+ of the top insurers in the country to find you cheap car insurance. There’s no paperwork, no back-and-forth emails, and no hassle. On top of that, you’re getting complete support from start to finish, plus, you could be saving an average of $887 a year on car insurance!

“You must get this app! It’s my first time getting my own insurance, so I called a few companies myself. Their rates priced me around $600/month. I used
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FAQs

Is Mazda leasing worth it?

Although most car leases do come with the option of buying outright at the end of the lease period, if you’re looking to make the car your own, a lease probably isn’t the best option. But if you’re looking to upgrade your car every few years and don’t want the commitment and expenses associated with owning a car, a lease could be a good option for you.

What’s the cheapest Mazda you can lease?

The exact monthly payments to lease a Mazda will depend on several factors ranging from sales tax and add-ons to the negotiated selling price and your downpayment. Assuming a $1,000 downpayment and an excellent credit score (above 750), you can expect the lowest monthly payments and upfront costs with the Mazda CX-5. However, check out Mazda’s monthly offers and incentives to find cheaper deals.

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