Auto loan calculator

Enter the car price, what you pay up front and the loan terms to see the monthly payment and what the car really costs once interest is added.

Auto loan calculator
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Monthly payment

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How it works

The amount you borrow is the price plus sales tax, minus your down payment and trade-in. In most US states the tax is charged on the price after the trade-in is deducted, which is how this calculator works; if your country already includes VAT in the price, set the sales tax to 0.

M = L × r ÷ (1 − (1 + r)−n)

  • M — monthly payment
  • L — amount financed
  • r — yearly rate ÷ 12 ÷ 100
  • n — number of monthly payments

Longer terms lower the payment but raise the total interest. On a 30,000 loan at 7.5%, moving from 60 to 72 months cuts the payment by about 80 a month and adds roughly 1,300 of interest, and the car loses value faster than a 72-month loan is paid down in the early years.

Common questions

Is a bigger down payment better than a shorter term?

Both cut total interest. A bigger down payment lowers the payment too; a shorter term raises it but clears the debt sooner. If you can afford the higher payment, the shorter term usually saves more.

Why is my dealer's payment different?

Dealers often add fees, extended warranties or a different rate. Ask for the amount financed, the APR and the number of payments, and enter those exact figures here.

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