CAR CALCULATOR
Car Payment & Auto Loan Calculator
Calculate your monthly car payment, auto loan interest, amount financed, and total vehicle cost using your price, down payment, trade-in, APR, tax, fees, and loan term.
Your loan estimate
Amount financed = vehicle price + estimated tax + fees - down payment - trade-in value
Planning estimate only, not a lender quote. Taxes are estimated from the full vehicle price. Trade-in tax treatment, fees, compounding, payment timing, and lender rules vary by location and provider.
How to use this calculator
Use this car payment calculator and auto loan calculator to estimate monthly payments, amount financed, total interest, and total vehicle cost from the values you enter.
Who this is for: This tool is for car shoppers comparing auto loan offers, monthly car payments, dealer finance, bank finance, APR, and loan terms before choosing a vehicle or lender.
- Enter the vehicle price, down payment, trade-in value, tax rate, and fees.
- Choose the loan term and enter the annual percentage rate.
- Review monthly payment, amount financed, total interest, and total vehicle cost.
Example comparison
Example: compare the monthly car payment for the same $35,000 vehicle with a 48-month and 72-month auto loan. A longer term may lower the monthly payment, but total interest and overall borrowing cost can be much higher.
How the calculation works
The calculator uses the standard fixed-payment amortization formula. At 0% APR, the amount financed is divided evenly by the number of months.
Understanding the result
A longer term can reduce the monthly payment while increasing total interest. Compare both payment and total cost before choosing a term.
Frequently asked questions
How does APR affect the loan?
A higher APR increases both the monthly payment and total interest. Even a small rate change can matter over a long term.
Is this a lender quote?
No. Lender fees, payment timing, compounding rules, credit profile, and local taxes can change an actual offer.
How is sales tax estimated?
The entered tax rate is applied to the full vehicle price. Trade-in tax treatment varies by location.
Should I choose the lowest monthly payment?
Not automatically. A longer term can lower the payment while increasing interest and the risk of owing more than the car is worth.