Local Lease Guide

    Best Car Lease Deals in Chicago, IL

    Illinois changed in 2015 to tax only lease payments, not the full price. Below are the most competitive lease programs in the Chicago market this month.

    Updated 2026-06-16 · Reviewed monthly

    Metro

    Chicago

    Illinois

    Lease tax rate

    6.25%

    State average

    Federal EV credit

    $7,500

    Applies to all leased EVs

    Popular vehicles to lease in Chicago

    Driven by regional demand and dealer inventory in the Chicago market.

    How leasing works in Chicago

    Illinois changed in 2015 to tax only lease payments, not the full price. That tax structure is the biggest variable in Chicago lease pricing — every other element of a lease (residual value, money factor, manufacturer incentives) is set nationally by the captive lender.

    Negotiation tips for the Chicago market

    • Always negotiate selling price before discussing monthly payment
    • Request the dealer's lease worksheet and verify residual % and money factor against published programs
    • End-of-quarter (March, June, September, December) typically yields the deepest dealer discounts
    • Stack manufacturer rebates (loyalty, conquest, college, military) — they apply directly as cap-cost reductions
    • Use our lease calculator to verify the dealer's math

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Lease Resources