What does due at signing mean on a lease?

Due at signing is the total cash required to start the lease. It often includes the first month's payment, an acquisition fee, any cap cost reduction (down payment), registration and title fees, a dealer documentation fee and sometimes a security deposit and upfront taxes. Advertised lease payments often assume a sizable amount due at signing, so read the fine print. On OffLot, the lease estimate on new-vehicle pages shows the amount due at signing alongside the monthly payment.