🚗 Auto Loan Calculator
The monthly payment is based on the amount you actually finance — the price plus tax, minus your down payment and trade-in. Enter your values below — results update instantly, entirely on your device.
on 27,100 financed over 60 months
price 30,000 + tax 2,100 − down 5,000
How the auto loan calculator works
Amount financed = price + sales tax − down payment − trade-in. Monthly payment uses the standard loan formula on that amount at the APR ÷ 12 monthly rate over the term. In many places sales tax applies to the price after the trade-in is deducted.
Example: A 30,000 car with 5,000 down, 7% tax and 6.5% APR over 60 months is about 483/month.
Two things inflate the true cost: a long term (72–84 months) lowers the monthly payment but piles on interest and risks owing more than the car is worth, and dealer add-ons rolled into the loan quietly grow the financed amount. The APR — not the "interest rate" — is what to compare between offers, since it includes fees.
Frequently asked questions
How is a car loan payment calculated?
First find the amount financed: vehicle price plus sales tax, minus your down payment and any trade-in. Then apply the standard loan formula at the monthly interest rate (APR ÷ 12) over the number of months. The result is your fixed monthly payment.
Does a trade-in reduce sales tax?
In many U.S. states, yes — sales tax is charged on the price after the trade-in value is subtracted, which lowers your tax. This calculator applies tax to the post-trade-in price. Rules vary by state, so confirm locally.
Is a longer loan term cheaper?
Only per month, not overall. Stretching to 72 or 84 months shrinks the payment but increases total interest and keeps you "underwater" (owing more than the car is worth) for longer. A larger down payment and a shorter term cost less in the end.
What is APR versus interest rate?
The APR includes certain loan fees on top of the base interest rate, so it reflects the true annual cost better. When comparing financing offers, compare APRs — a low headline rate with high fees can be worse than a higher rate with none.
Is this auto loan calculator accurate and private?
Yes. It uses the standard published formula, shows its working under every result, and computes locally in your browser — your inputs are never sent to a server, and the page works offline.