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Auto Loan Calculator

Estimate a car loan payment and total cost from vehicle price, down payment, trade-in value, sales tax, fees, APR, and term.

Vehicle and loan details

Taxes and fees

Monthly payment

$0/mo
Amount financed
$0
Total interest
$0
Total loan cost
$0

Cost breakdown

Financed costs

Payments over time

Monthly principal, interest, and loan balance

Amortization schedule

First 5 payments
Month Interest Principal Ending balance

Interpret your auto loan estimate

The monthly payment is the fixed payment needed to repay the financed vehicle balance over the selected term. The total loan cost shows payments over the life of the loan, including interest.

Inputs that matter most

  • APR: sets the cost of borrowing and can move the monthly payment quickly.
  • Loan term: longer terms lower monthly payment but usually increase total interest.
  • Trade equity: positive equity reduces the balance; negative equity increases it.
  • Taxes and fees: can make the financed amount higher than the vehicle price.

Common mistakes

  • Comparing only monthly payment instead of total interest.
  • Forgetting dealer, title, and registration fees.
  • Treating a trade-in as a full discount when money is still owed.
  • Using a long term without checking whether the car may depreciate faster than the loan balance.

When this estimate can be misleading

This estimate does not include lender-specific fees, optional warranties, gap insurance, variable-rate loans, prepayment penalties, or local rules that tax trade-ins and rebates differently.

Scenarios to try

  • Compare 60- and 72-month terms at the same APR.
  • Increase APR by 1% to test a weaker financing offer.
  • Add negative trade equity before deciding whether the deal works.
  • Try a larger down payment to reduce total interest.

Next-step utilities

Loan Calculator Credit Card Payoff Calculator Mortgage Calculator

How to use this auto loan calculator

Estimate a car payment from vehicle price, cash down, trade-in equity, taxes, fees, APR, and loan term.

  1. Choose whether to calculate from vehicle price or a target monthly payment.
  2. Enter the vehicle price or target payment before taxes and fees.
  3. Add your down payment, then choose whether you have a trade-in.
  4. If you have a trade-in, enter its value and any amount still owed on it.
  5. Enter the APR, term, sales tax, title fees, dealer fees, rebate, and whether taxes and fees are financed.
  6. Review the estimated payment, amount financed, total interest, total loan cost, and amortization schedule.

Auto Loan Calculator features

  • Estimate monthly auto loan payments from vehicle price, APR, and loan term.
  • Calculate from a target monthly payment to back into an affordable vehicle price.
  • Include cash down payment in the amount financed.
  • Include trade-in value and amount owed on the trade-in.
  • Account for rebates, sales tax, title fees, and dealer fees.
  • Choose whether taxes and fees are financed or paid upfront.
  • Review amount financed, monthly payment, total interest, and total loan cost.
  • Preview an amortization schedule for the auto loan.
  • Compare total cash due at signing against financed costs.

What is included in an auto loan payment?

A car payment usually repays the financed vehicle balance with interest. The financed balance can include more than the sticker price.

This calculator adds estimated sales tax, registration costs, dealer fees, and any negative trade equity before subtracting down payment, positive trade equity, and rebates.

Insurance, fuel, maintenance, parking, and repairs are not included in the loan payment. Add those separately when checking whether the car fits your monthly budget.

Auto loan payment formula

The calculator estimates the financed balance, then applies the standard fixed-rate amortization formula.

Amount financed
L = P + T + F - D - R - E

P is vehicle price, T is financed sales tax, F is financed fees, D is down payment, R is rebate, and E is trade equity.

Monthly payment
M = L \cdot \frac{r(1+r)^n}{(1+r)^n - 1}

L is amount financed, r is monthly interest rate, and n is number of monthly payments.

Auto loan calculator FAQ

Does this include sales tax?
Yes. Sales tax is estimated from the vehicle price, then adjusted for rebates and for trade-in value when the trade-in tax credit setting is set to Yes. Some states tax the full vehicle price before trade-in, so use your lender, DMV, or state tax guidance for a final number.
How does a trade-in affect the loan?
Positive trade equity lowers the amount financed. If you owe more than the trade is worth, the negative equity increases the amount financed.
Why does a longer auto loan cost more?
A longer term spreads repayment over more months. That can lower the payment, but interest has more time to accrue.

Price the vehicle and the financing separately

Start with the out-the-door price, not the advertised monthly payment. The out-the-door figure combines vehicle price, taxable items, sales tax, registration, documentation fees, and any add-ons, less the down payment and trade-in credit. Rules differ by location, so use the written buyer's order rather than guessing from the sticker price.

A trade-in has two numbers: its agreed value and any loan balance still owed on it. When the old payoff exceeds the trade value, the difference is negative equity. Rolling that amount into the new loan raises both the financed balance and interest cost. Enter the trade details carefully and verify the payoff with the current lender.

The CFPB auto-loan resources cover shopping for financing, comparing loan terms, and understanding the effect of trade-ins and add-ons. Compare preapproval offers before discussing the dealer-arranged loan so price and financing remain separate decisions.

Compare financing offers with the same amount and term. A long term lowers the payment but can keep the balance above the car's value for longer. It also extends the period in which a repair bill and a loan payment can overlap. Test a shorter term and a larger down payment to see how much total interest changes.

The result excludes fuel, insurance, maintenance, parking, and depreciation. Add those costs to the monthly budget before choosing a vehicle. If a lease is also under consideration, use the lease versus buy calculator with the same vehicle price, time horizon, and expected mileage.

Do not let a dealer solve only for a requested payment. A lower payment can come from a larger down payment, a longer term, or hidden negative equity rather than a lower price. Write down the agreed vehicle price, trade allowance, trade payoff, add-ons, fees, APR, and term as separate figures. That makes it possible to compare the calculator with the contract before signing.

Check the first payment date and whether interest begins when the loan is funded. A delayed first payment is not necessarily a free month; interest may accrue during the gap. The calculator uses a regular monthly schedule, so a lender's first payment can differ slightly. Use the signed disclosure for the amount and due date you must actually pay.

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