Auto Loan Calculator
See your full car loan picture — monthly payment, total interest and total cost — including sales tax, fees and trade-in.
Inputs
Result
Visual breakdown
System view
See how this fits into your full financial system.
Zoom out and connect income, expenses, debt, savings, housing, transportation, and runway in one private system view.
Formula
Loan = price − down − trade-in + tax (on price − trade-in) + fees. Payment uses standard amortization.
Example
$32,000 car, $3,000 down, $2,000 trade-in, 7% tax, $500 fees, 6.5% APR, 60 months → roughly $545/mo.
Related: Car payment · Affordability · Total ownership
How to use
- Enter the negotiated vehicle price, not MSRP.
- Add your down payment and trade-in value.
- Use your state's sales tax rate; most states tax (price − trade-in).
- Add typical doc / title / registration fees.
When it's useful
- Comparing dealer financing offers.
- Checking how a longer term changes payment vs interest.
- Budgeting before walking into a dealership.
Common examples
Common answers
- Payment on a $30,000 car at 7% for 60 months?≈ $594/mo principal & interest.
- $25,000 at 6% for 60 months?≈ $483/mo.
- 36 vs 60 vs 72 months — what changes?Longer terms lower the payment and raise total interest paid.
- Does a bigger down payment help?Yes — every $1,000 down trims both the payment and total interest.
- Why is my used-car APR higher?Used loans typically carry higher rates than new — small rate gaps add up over the term.
Embed this calculator
Free · noindex iframeAdd this calculator to your site. Copy the snippet — it works on any page with a simple iframe.
Frequently asked
Is sales tax usually rolled into the loan?
Yes, in most US states the buyer can finance sales tax along with the vehicle price.
Does a trade-in really lower tax?
In most states, sales tax applies to (price − trade-in). A few states tax the full price.
Should I take 72 or 84 months for a lower payment?
It lowers the payment but you pay much more interest and stay underwater longer. Shorter terms cost less overall.
What APR should I expect?
Rates vary by credit and lender — check a credit union pre-approval before negotiating at the dealership.
People also calculate
More money & work →Estimates only — not financial advice. See how transportation costs affect your monthly budget, runway, and flexibility.