Auto Loan / Car Payment Calculator
Enter the vehicle price, your down payment, and the interest rate and loan term to see your monthly car payment, total interest, total cost, and the amount you'd finance. Add a trade-in and sales tax for a fuller picture. Results update as you type.
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How to use the auto loan calculator
Type in the vehicle price and your down payment — the cash you pay up front. If you're trading in an older car, add its trade-in value; it lowers both what you finance and, in most states, the sales tax you owe. Enter the interest rate (APR) your lender quoted and pick a loan term in months. The monthly payment and totals update instantly — there's no button to press and nothing is sent anywhere.
The big number is your monthly payment. Below it you'll see the amount financed (what you actually borrow), the total interest over the life of the loan, and the total paid.
Sales tax (optional). Enter your state's sales tax rate to fold it into the loan. It's applied to the price after your trade-in, which is how most US states tax a car purchase. Tax rules vary by state, so treat the figure as an estimate.
Everything runs in your browser — the numbers you type are never uploaded. These figures are estimates, not financial advice.
Common car loan questions
How is the monthly payment worked out? The amount you finance is spread evenly over every month of the term using the interest rate, so each payment is the same. Early on, more of each payment goes to interest; later, more goes to paying down the balance.
Why does a longer term cost more overall? A 72-month loan has a lower monthly payment than a 36-month loan, but you pay interest for twice as long, so the total interest is much higher. Tap the term presets to compare.
How does a bigger down payment or trade-in help? Both reduce the amount you finance, which lowers your monthly payment and the total interest you pay. A trade-in can also reduce the taxable price in most states.
What's the amount financed? It's the vehicle price minus your down payment and trade-in, plus any sales tax you choose to roll into the loan. That's the figure interest is charged on.
What credit score do I need for a good car loan rate? Lenders price auto loans in tiers. Borrowers with scores in the mid-700s and up usually see the lowest advertised rates, while scores in the 600s pay noticeably more, and subprime borrowers pay the most. You can't change your score overnight, but try a few rates in the calculator to see how much each percentage point adds to your total interest — it's often more than people expect.
Should I take the manufacturer rebate or the 0% financing? Many promotions make you choose one or the other. Run the loan once with the rebate subtracted from the price at your normal rate, then run it again at 0% with no rebate, and compare the total paid. A large cash rebate often beats 0% on a shorter loan, while 0% tends to win on longer terms — the calculator lets you check rather than guess.
What is being "upside down" on a car loan? You're upside down (or "underwater") when you owe more than the car is worth, which is common early in a long loan because cars depreciate fast. A bigger down payment and a shorter term reduce the time you spend upside down. It matters if you total the car or want to sell it, since you'd still owe the gap.