The benefits of leasing over financing include the ability to drive a car during its best years without having to worry about the expensive repairs and maintenance that become more common as a vehicle ages.

Here to answer all your car-leasing questions is

Jerry

, the

car insurance

broker app. In this guide, learn everything you need to know about leasing a Ford Explorer Sport, from how much you’ll pay to what happens when your lease ends. Then, we'll tell you how to save money on your

Ford Explorer Sport insurance cost

Find out if you can reduce your monthly car payments in minutes

* checking your rate won’t affect your credit score

Check your rate

* checking your rate won’t affect your credit score

How to lease a Ford Explorer Sport

Leasing a Ford Explorer Sport is, for the most part, a straightforward process. However, if you’re a leasing newbie, going through this checklist before visiting a dealership can help boost your confidence ahead of signing on the dotted line.

Check your credit score. Leasing any vehicle becomes more difficult and more expensive with a lower credit score. Generally, a credit score below 630 will make it more difficult to find a good lease deal. If your credit score is lower than 650, your best bet is to work on improving it if you want to benefit from the lowest possible monthly lease payments.

Determine your budget. Don’t over-commit to your auto lease. As a rule, try not to allot more than 15% of your monthly income to your lease payments, though closer to 10% is ideal. For example, if you earn $4,000 a month, no more than $600 should go toward your lease.

Estimate your down payment

. The bigger the down payment you make, the less you’ll pay each month for your leased Explorer Sport.

Calculate your annual mileage. Ford offers drivers annual mileage plans between 7,500 and 19,500 miles. If you have a long commute or frequently drive cross-country, opting for a higher annual mileage is a great way to avoid paying any additional mileage fees at the end of your lease.

With all of these factors in mind, it’s time to visit your local Ford dealership and talk to a leasing agent about that Ford Explorer Sport you’ve had your eye on. Together with an agent, you can

compare lease offers

for a Ford Explorer Sport.

However, keep in mind that leasing agents will likely try to talk you into opting for potentially expensive add-ons that can raise your monthly lease payments. Having a set budget in mind before visiting the dealership can help you to avoid overspending.

The final step: shop for insurance

Once you’ve agreed to a lease offer with your local Ford dealership, you’ll have to insure your new Ford Explorer Sport. The dealership will likely require you to carry

comprehensive

and

collision coverage

beyond your state's legal minimums.

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Jerry
was easy to use, and they saved me a lot of money on my truck. I would definitely recommend them.” —Johannes T.

How much does a Ford Explorer Sport lease cost?

On average, you should expect to dish out between $431 and $504 a month to lease a Ford Explorer Sport.

The exact price of your monthly lease payment will depend on your mileage plan, your lease term length, and your down payment. Credit score and location can similarly affect your leasing costs for a Ford Explorer Sport.

One of the most influential factors in determining your monthly lease payments is the mileage plan you agree to at the start of your lease. Ford offers drivers mileage plans ranging anywhere from 7,500 annual miles to 19,500 annual miles.

Let’s take a look at how much you should expect your monthly payment and amount due at signing to change as your mileage plan for a 2022 Ford Explorer Sport changes. These estimates are made assuming a $2,500 down payment on a 36-month lease agreement.

Mileage plan	Monthly payment	Amount due at signing
7,500	$431	$2,931
10,500	$440	$2,940
12,000	$450	$2,950
13,500	$459	$2,959
15,000	$468	$2,968
16,500	$478	$2,978
18,000	$487	$2,987
19,500	$497	$2,997

Find out if you can reduce your monthly car payments in minutes

* checking your rate won’t affect your credit score

Check your rate

* checking your rate won’t affect your credit score

The length of your lease term can also affect how much you’ll be paying per month for your Ford Explorer Sport. Generally speaking, lease terms are 36 months long; however, Ford offers customers the option of shortening or lengthening their lease term.

Let’s have a look at how your monthly lease payments will change depending on the length of your lease term. This time we’ll assume you’re opting for a 15,000-mile plan and paying a $2,500 down payment.

Lease term	Monthly payment	Amount due at signing
24 months	$540	$3,040
36 months	$468	$2,968
39 months	$449	$2,949
48 months	$506	$3,006

Find out if you can reduce your monthly car payments in minutes

* checking your rate won’t affect your credit score

Check your rate

* checking your rate won’t affect your credit score

While the amount due at signing for these estimations is calculated using the combined values of your first month’s payment and a $2,500 down payment, lessees should keep in mind that they will also be subject to a $1,245 Destination and Delivery charge as well as a $645 Acquisition Fee for your Ford Explorer Sport lease.

MORE:

Is it better to lease or buy a car?

Services included in a Ford Explorer Sport lease

All leased Ford vehicles are entitled to a program known as

Ford Credit

that pays for the costs of normal wear and use on your leased vehicle.

However, while Ford Credit does cover the costs of expected wear and use, drivers should keep in mind that excess wear and use is not covered under the program. Here is what Ford constitutes as 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 Explorer Sport lease is up

As your lease end approaches, you have three options:

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

Return your Explorer Sport

Purchase your leased Explorer

How to return a leased Explorer Sport

Ready to move on from your Explorer Sport? Just contact the dealership that originated your lease and they’ll go over the details of the lease return process with you.

Your dealership’s leasing agent will walk you through your return options, as well as discuss any potential additional costs related to your leased Explorer’s mileage and address excess wear and use. The leasing agent will also help you schedule a return appointment for your Explorer Sport.

If there are any final repairs that you need to address, these will have to be taken care of before you return your Explorer. Be sure to keep receipts of these repairs as Ford typically offers a $5,000 excess wear and use waiver. However, if you believe that the cost of your repairs is likely to exceed that amount, you will be liable for anything not covered by the waiver.

Lastly, you’ll need to return your Ford Explorer Sport on your scheduled return date. At this point, you’ll be required to pay for any remaining fees before you can officially finalize the lease return. An odometer statement and vehicle return transaction statement will also have to be completed as part of this return appointment.

How to purchase a leased Ford Explorer Sport

If you’re not ready to say goodbye to your Ford Explorer Sport, you can request to buy out your lease. To initiate this process, you’ll have to request a payoff quote by contacting Ford Credit Customer Support or by calling 1-800-727-7000.

How to find the best car insurance for a Ford Explorer Sport lease

Having great car insurance is important whether you’re choosing to lease or finance a car. But how can you find great car insurance without depleting your bank account? The

Jerry

app makes it easier than ever to find the best deals on the car insurance you need without sacrificing the coverage you want.

Just download the

trustworthy super app

, answer a couple of quick questions, and Jerry will generate multiple competitive quotes from top insurance providers in your area.

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is the future of car insurance! I downloaded the app, entered the information, picked my insurance rate, and paid my fee. I even switched insurance providers easily! Jerry saved me $182/month so quickly!” —Paulina F.