If you are considering vehicle leasing, then you may want to get a jump start on knowing what's coming out of your wallet before you decide to get that car of your dreams. The first place to begin is to understand the up-front costs - or minimum costs - due at your lease signing. Knowing this information can help you compare offers and negotiate a lease that best fits your needs, budget and driving patterns. You may also want to consider reviewing your credit report and paying off as much debt as possible before you begin your car search. You can request a copy of your credit report at MyFICO.com and if you need assistance with debt relief, you can contact programs such as CreditCardConsolidators.com to help you get where you need to be financially.

The most common type of vehicle lease is called a closed-end lease. With a closed-end lease, you would return the vehicle at the end of the term, pay any end-of-lease costs and walk away. The following explanations are meant to give you a general understanding of some typical up-front costs you will be confronted with in a closed-end car leasing deal. Keep in mind, the fees in each state vary as does each deal.

Acquisition Fee: Usually covers a variety of car leasing administrative costs, such as the cost of obtaining a credit report, verifying insurance coverage, checking the accuracy and completeness of the lease documentation and entering the lease in data processing and accounting systems. This fee is sometimes referred to as a bank fee or an assignment fee.

First Month's Payment: Monthly payments that cover any amortized amounts, depreciation or rental charges associated with the car lease. It is calculated by adding the amortized amounts, depreciation and rental charges, then dividing the sum by the number of months in the lease to determine the total monthly payments.

Rental Charge: The portion of your base monthly car lease payment that is not depreciation or any amortized amounts. It is similar to interest on a loan.

Capitalized Cost Reduction: Otherwise known as a down payment, used to reduce the capitalized cost of your car lease. The cap cost reduction is subtracted from the gross cap cost to get the adjusted cap cost.

Sales/Use Tax: These taxes vary from state to state and are assessed on (1) the base monthly payment of the car lease and (2) any capitalized cost reduction. In most states, the sales/use tax is added to the monthly payment.

Refundable Security Deposit: An amount you may be required to pay that would be used by the leaser in the event of default or at the end of the auto lease to offset any amounts you owe under the lease agreement. Any remaining amount would be refunded to you.

Registration Fee: A fee charged by a state motor vehicle department to register a vehicle and authorize its use on the public roadways.

Freight/Destination Fee: If your vehicle has to be shipped from another state or delivered to you, the dealer may charge you a fee.