Auto Loan Calculator
Estimate a monthly car payment with vehicle price, down payment, trade-in value, sales tax, fees, and optional extra monthly principal.
Auto Loan Summary
Estimated monthly payment, financed amount, and total borrowing cost
Enter your loan details to see your estimate.
What This Includes
Designed for a fast fixed-rate payment estimate.
Included: amount financed, sales tax estimate, monthly payment, payoff timing, total interest, and an amortization schedule.
Not included: lender rebates, negative equity from an existing loan, insurance products, title/registration detail, or state-by-state tax rules that differ from the default assumption.
Auto Loan Balance Over Time
Track remaining balance with cumulative principal and interest paid.
Amortization Schedule
Payment-by-payment view of principal, interest, and remaining balance.
| Year | Total Paid | Principal | Interest | Balance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enter auto loan details to see the amortization schedule. | |||||
How Auto Loan Estimates Work
The payment is driven by the financed balance, APR, and term.
Amount Financed
This is the balance the lender is effectively financing.
Formula: vehicle price minus down payment and trade-in, plus estimated sales tax and fees.
That makes auto loans meaningfully different from the generic loan calculator, because taxes and credits change the starting balance before amortization begins.
Extra Payments
Optional extra monthly principal can materially reduce total interest.
Extra payments are applied to principal on top of the scheduled monthly payment.
The summary highlights the interest and time savings if you choose to pay extra each month.
Sales Tax Assumption
Tax handling on vehicles varies by state.
This page assumes trade-in value reduces the taxable amount before sales tax is calculated.
If your state calculates tax differently, treat the result as a directional estimate rather than a lender quote.
Best Use
Use this page when your intent is specifically car financing.
For broad installment-loan comparisons, the generic loan calculator is still useful.
For car buying, this page is more accurate because it includes vehicle price, trade-in value, tax, fees, and months-based loan terms.
Auto Loan Calculator FAQ
Common questions about vehicle financing, taxes, trade-ins, and payoff schedules.
What is included in the auto loan payment estimate?
The estimate starts with vehicle price, subtracts down payment and trade-in value, then adds estimated sales tax and fees before calculating the loan payment.
Does the calculator include insurance or maintenance?
No. It focuses on the financed auto loan payment and amortization. Insurance, fuel, maintenance, registration renewals, and repairs are separate ownership costs.
How does trade-in value affect sales tax?
This page assumes the trade-in reduces the taxable vehicle amount. Some states handle trade-ins differently, so check local rules when comparing lender quotes.
What does an extra monthly payment do?
Extra monthly payments are applied to principal. That can reduce total interest and move the payoff date earlier if the lender allows principal-only extra payments.
Should I compare shorter and longer loan terms?
Yes. Longer terms usually lower the monthly payment but increase total interest. Shorter terms often cost more each month but reduce the total borrowing cost.