Calculator
Vehicle Payment Calculator
Estimate your monthly auto-loan payment including sales tax, fees, and trade-in — plus total interest over the loan term.
1. Your inputs
Results update instantly. Everything runs in your browser.
2. Your results
Estimated monthly payment
$762.39/mo
for 60 months at 8.5% APR
Amount financed
$37,160
Total interest
$8,584
Total paid
$45,744
Down payment
$4,000
Trade-in
$0
Sales tax
$2,660
Payment composition over time
Total cost breakdown
$49,744
Total
- Vehicle price76%
$38,000
- Tax + fees6%
$3,160
- Interest17%
$8,584
What does this mean?
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In plain English
A $38,000 vehicle with $4,000 down (plus $0 trade-in) at 8.5% APR over 60 months puts your payment at roughly $762.39.
You'll pay $8,584 in interest on top of the vehicle price and taxes.
Every extra month of term saves you a few dollars a month but costs hundreds in additional interest. Shorter loans win almost every time.
Assumptions used
The math relies on these assumptions. Real-world numbers can vary.
- Fixed-rate, fully-amortizing loan.
- Sales tax applied to (price − trade-in).
- Fees rolled into the amount financed.
- Monthly payments (12 per year).
- No extra prepayment or gap insurance modeled.
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Frequently asked
Does this include tax and fees?
Yes — enter your sales tax rate and any dealer/registration fees, and the calculator folds them into the amount financed.
How long should my auto loan be?
48 months is the historical sweet spot. Beyond 60 months the interest cost jumps sharply and you risk being upside-down (owing more than the car is worth).
Trade-in vs down payment?
They're mathematically the same to the loan. Whichever gets the loan balance down works.
What's a reasonable APR?
Excellent credit: 5–7%. Good: 7–10%. Subprime: 12–20%+. If your rate is above 15%, consider whether a used car with cash makes more sense.
Does this account for TCO?
No — see our Total Cost of Vehicle Ownership calculator for fuel, insurance, maintenance, and depreciation.
About the Vehicle Payment Calculator
Auto loans work like any other fixed-rate installment loan — but sales tax, dealer fees, and trade-ins make the true amount financed hard to eyeball. This calculator normalizes all of that into a single monthly number.
Watch for two traps: 72+ month loans that keep monthly payments low but generate huge interest, and negative equity from rolling old loan balances into new car loans.
For a fuller picture (fuel, insurance, maintenance, depreciation), use our Total Cost of Vehicle Ownership calculator.
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These calculators are for education only and are not a substitute for personalized advice from a licensed professional. Read our full disclaimer.