Loan calculator
Auto Loan Calculator
Estimate a monthly auto loan payment from vehicle price, down payment, trade-in value, trade payoff, rebate, sales tax, fees, APR, term, and optional extra monthly payment.
Updated: June 10, 2026
Calculate auto loan payment
Scenario comparison
Compare the scheduled payment with an extra-payment path and a shorter-term payment estimate.
Auto loan cost breakdown
This insight updates to show whether the vehicle price, taxes and fees, or financing cost is the largest visible driver.
Amortization preview
Shows the first 12 monthly auto-loan rows. Download CSV for the modeled full schedule.
| Month | Payment | Principal | Interest | Balance |
|---|
Yearly summary
How to read this result
Use monthly payment for the loan estimate, amount financed to check what is being borrowed, and out-the-door price to separate taxes and fees from financing. Ownership costs such as insurance, fuel, maintenance, and depreciation are outside this result.
When comparing dealer worksheets, also check whether optional products such as extended warranties, service plans, gap coverage, or protection packages are included in the financed amount. Those items can make the payment look like a financing issue when the real driver is product bundling. Run the quote with and without optional add-ons so the breakdown stays transparent.
Formula
The calculator estimates an out-the-door price, subtracts down payment, trade-in value, and rebate, adds any trade payoff being rolled into the loan, then applies the standard amortizing loan payment formula. Extra payment is simulated month by month.
Worked example
A $28,000 vehicle with $3,000 down, $2,000 trade-in, 6% tax, $600 fees, and 60-month financing creates a financed amount before monthly interest is applied. If you still owe money on the trade-in, that payoff can increase the financed amount.
How to interpret the result
The monthly payment is the estimated loan payment, not the full cost of owning a vehicle. Fuel, maintenance, repairs, insurance, parking, registration renewals, and depreciation can make the real monthly cost higher. The out-the-door price shows the vehicle price plus estimated tax and fees before financing offsets.
The total interest result depends heavily on APR and term length. Try a shorter term, larger down payment, lower APR, or extra monthly payment to see which input changes total interest most.
Common input mistakes
- Entering trade-in value without considering any remaining loan payoff on the trade-in.
- Leaving taxes, fees, or rebates out when comparing a dealer quote.
- Focusing only on monthly payment while extending the term.
- Ignoring insurance and operating costs when checking affordability.
FAQ
Does this include car insurance?
No. Insurance and operating costs are separate from the loan payment.
Why does the trade payoff field matter?
If money is still owed on a trade-in and that payoff is rolled into the new loan, the financed amount can be higher than expected.
Why does term length matter?
A longer term can lower the monthly payment but may increase total interest paid.
How to read this result
The result is an educational estimate based only on the inputs shown on this page. It is useful for comparing assumptions, spotting cost drivers, and understanding the formula, but it is not a recommendation or a guarantee.
Before using a result for a real decision, compare it with official documents, local rules, fees, taxes, insurance, and any professional guidance that applies. See How We Calculate and the Disclaimer for more context.
Result quality checklist
- Confirm whether tax is applied before or after rebates in your jurisdiction.
- Separate required fees from optional add-ons before comparing dealer quotes.
- Compare the loan payment with insurance, fuel, maintenance, and depreciation in your monthly budget.
Related calculators
Compare financing alternatives with the loan payment calculator, check total household cash flow with the monthly budget calculator, or estimate a broader debt picture with the debt-to-income calculator.
Scenario tips before comparing offers
Start by matching the calculator to a real quote as closely as possible: vehicle price, taxes, mandatory fees, rebate, trade value, trade payoff, down payment, APR, and term. Once the base payment is close to the quote, change one input at a time. This makes it easier to see whether the deal is being driven by the selling price, the financing rate, the term length, or add-on costs that are being rolled into the loan.
For affordability, do not treat the loan payment as the complete car cost. A safer comparison adds insurance, fuel, parking, routine maintenance, registration renewal, and an allowance for repairs or depreciation. If the payment only works by stretching the term, the total interest and negative-equity risk may deserve more attention than the monthly number.