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Vehicle Loan Calculator

Estimate your monthly car payment, see how interest rates and loan terms affect total cost, and factor in trade-in value and sales tax for the full picture.

$
$
$
7%
0%12%
6.5%
0%20%
60 mo
12 mo84 mo

Monthly Payment

$635

60-month loan at 6.5%

Loan Amount

$32,450

Sales Tax

$2,450

Total Interest

$5,645

14.8% of payments

Total Cost

$43,095

All-in cost to own

Cost Breakdown

$635per month
Principal
Interest
Sales Tax
Down Payment

Create a full plan

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Understanding Auto Loans

How loan term affects total cost

A longer loan term (72 - 84 months) gives you a lower monthly payment, but you'll pay thousands more in interest over the life of the loan. A 60-month term is typically the sweet spot between affordable payments and reasonable total cost.

Don't forget sales tax

Sales tax can add $2,000 - $5,000+ to a vehicle purchase, and many buyers finance it into the loan. In most states, you only pay sales tax on the difference between the purchase price and your trade-in value - this calculator accounts for that.

The 20/4/10 rule

Financial advisors recommend the 20/4/10 rule: put at least 20% down, finance for no more than 4 years, and keep total transportation costs under 10% of gross income. Use this calculator to see if your target vehicle fits within these guidelines.

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