Calculate your car payment from price, down payment, trade-in, tax, fees and rate, or find the price you can afford.
Optional extra payments
| Year | Payments | Principal | Interest | Ending balance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $2,096.95 | $1,487.84 | $609.10 | $33,812.16 |
| 2027 | $8,387.79 | $6,217.91 | $2,169.87 | $27,594.24 |
| 2028 | $8,387.79 | $6,667.41 | $1,720.38 | $20,926.84 |
| 2029 | $8,387.79 | $7,149.40 | $1,238.39 | $13,777.44 |
| 2030 | $8,387.79 | $7,666.23 | $721.56 | $6,111.21 |
| 2031 | $6,290.84 | $6,111.21 | $179.63 | $0.00 |
Please do not make financial decisions based on these results.
What is the Auto Loan Calculator?
An auto loan calculator works out your monthly car payment from the price, down payment, trade-in, sales tax, fees, interest rate and term. You can also enter a monthly budget to see the price you can afford.
What goes into a car payment
The payment depends on the amount financed, the interest rate and the term. The amount financed is the vehicle price plus sales tax and fees, minus your down payment and any trade-in value. Longer terms lower the monthly payment but increase total interest, and they raise the risk of owing more than the car is worth.
Choosing the term and down payment
A larger down payment reduces the amount you borrow and the interest you pay. Shorter terms of three to five years usually cost much less overall. Try a few combinations and compare the total of all payments, not just the monthly figure.
- Trade-in. Subtract its value from the amount financed. If you owe more than it is worth, that gap is added to the new loan.
- Sales tax and fees. Use your state rate and add documentation and registration fees so the payment is realistic.
- Rebates and rates. A cash rebate and a low rate are often offered as alternatives; the cash back or low interest calculator shows which is cheaper.
Buy or lease
If you are not sure you want to own the vehicle, compare the numbers with the auto lease calculator. For any other installment loan the loan calculator follows the same formula.
How to use the Auto Loan Calculator
- Fill in the fields. You will need Vehicle price ($), Down payment ($), Sales tax (%), Title, registration & dealer fees ($), Loan rate (APR %), Loan term: years. Use the out-the-door price, not the sticker price, and the rate on your financing offer. Fields marked optional can stay at zero.
- Read the result. The highlighted box gives the Monthly payment, and the cards below show Vehicle price, Sales tax, Fees. Tables and charts break it down further.
- Test other scenarios. Results update as you type. Change one value at a time to see what drives the answer, and press Reset to go back to the defaults.
Formula and how it works
Example with real numbers
Here is the Auto Loan Calculator using the default values shown in the calculator above:
Inputs
| Mode | I know the car price |
|---|---|
| Vehicle price ($) | 35,000 |
| Down payment ($) | 3,000 |
| Sales tax (%) | 8 |
| Title, registration & dealer fees ($) | 500 |
| Loan rate (APR %) | 7 |
| Loan term: years | 5 |
Results
| Monthly payment | $698.98 |
|---|---|
| Vehicle price | $35,000.00 |
| Sales tax | $2,800.00 |
| Fees | $500.00 |
| Down payment + trade equity | $3,000.00 |
| Amount financed | $35,300.00 |
| Total interest | $6,638.94 |
| Total of all payments | $41,938.94 |
| Time to pay off | 5 yrs |
With these inputs the calculator returns Monthly payment: $698.98. Change any value in the calculator to see how the result moves.
What the results tell you
The results panel of the Auto Loan Calculator reports Monthly payment, vehicle price, sales tax, fees, down payment + trade equity, amount financed and total interest. Compare these figures while changing one input at a time, and use the related calculators below to look at the same situation from another angle.
Tips for better results
Method and limits. This calculator applies the formula in the section above to your inputs, in your browser; nothing you enter is stored on our servers. Dealer fees, taxes and your credit profile change the real figure; confirm them in the finance paperwork. It is for information, not financial, tax or legal advice.
Frequently asked questions
Should I include fees?
Yes. Title, registration and dealer fees raise the amount you finance.
Should I include sales tax and fees in the loan?
If you finance them, yes. The calculator adds tax and fees to the amount financed unless your down payment covers them.
Is a shorter loan better?
A shorter term has a higher payment but costs much less interest overall.
Is it better to lease or buy a car?
Buying costs more per month but you own the car afterward. Leasing has lower payments but you return the car or pay the buyout. Compare total cost over the period you plan to keep it.
Are the results guaranteed?
No. Results depend entirely on the numbers you enter and the formulas shown on this page. Please do not make financial decisions based on them alone; confirm important figures with a licensed professional.
Related auto calculators
Guides that use this calculator
- How Much Car Can I Afford? The 20/4/10 Rule With Real Numbers
- Cash Back or Low APR? How to Pick the Better Car Deal
- Lease vs Buy a Car: The Real Cost Over 3 and 6 Years
- Car Depreciation: How Fast Cars Lose Value, Year by Year
- New vs Used Car: The Five-Year Cost Comparison
- 72- and 84-Month Car Loans: Lower Payments, Higher Risk