Automotive
Car Loan Calculator
Estimate a vehicle loan from purchase price, down payment, trade-in, tax, fees, APR, and term. Review financed cost, monthly payment, annual amortization, remaining balance, and a professional PDF report.
Amount financed$0.00
Monthly payment$0.00
Total interest$0.00
Total loan repayment$0.00
Loan analysis
Vehicle balance and annual repayment
Remaining loan balanceBy loan year
Remaining balance (USD)Loan year
| Year | Opening | Payments | Principal | Interest | End balance |
|---|
| Month | Opening | Payment | Principal | Interest | End balance |
|---|
Loan structure
Vehicle price, credits, financed balance, and interest
The purchase stack separates price, tax, fees, down payment, trade-in credit, financed principal, and interest.
Vehicle price, credits, financed balance, and interest
Vehicle priceTax + feesCash creditsFinanced
Amount financed$0
Monthly payment$0
Total interest$0
Total repayment$0
How to use Car Loan Calculator
- Enter the vehicle price, down payment, trade-in value, sales tax rate, dealer or registration fees, APR, and loan term.
- Review amount financed first. If this number is wrong, the payment, interest, and repayment schedule will all be wrong.
- Compare monthly payment with total interest. A longer term can lower the monthly payment while increasing the financing cost.
- Use the annual and monthly amortization tables to see when principal starts replacing interest as the larger part of each payment.
- Use the visualization to confirm how purchase cash, financed balance, and interest fit together before comparing offers.
Calculator guide
Understanding Car Loan Calculator
A car loan estimate should start with the actual amount financed, not just the sticker price. This page separates purchase price, tax, fees, down payment, trade-in credit, APR, and term so the payment and total interest can be checked against the cash actually borrowed.
Calculation method
How the calculation works
Financed amount = vehicle price + tax and fees - down payment - trade-in; monthly payment uses the fixed-rate amortization formula. Gross acquisition cost is reduced by entered cash and trade-in credit, then the remaining financed amount is amortized with the fixed-rate payment formula. The schedule splits each payment into interest and principal and carries the remaining balance forward.
Worked situations
Practical examples
- Compare a larger down payment with keeping more cash on hand.
- Review a 48-month loan against a 72-month loan.
- Include sales tax and dealer fees to avoid understating the financed amount.
Better inputs
Useful tips
- Include taxes and fees before comparing dealer payment quotes.
- Compare the same term, APR, and down payment across lenders.
- Check whether rebates reduce the price or are treated differently in the sales contract.
Before relying on the result
Limitations and common mistakes
- The page does not include insurance, maintenance, fuel, registration renewals, depreciation, or early payoff fees.
- Actual lender terms can include documentation rules, add-ons, rebates, taxes, and fees not entered here.
- The result is a financing estimate, not a loan approval or dealer quote.
Reference
Key terms
- Amount financed
- The balance borrowed after cash credits are applied.
- APR
- Annual percentage rate used to model the monthly loan rate.
- Amortization
- The process of reducing principal over scheduled payments.
- Trade-in credit
- Entered vehicle value used as a reduction against the purchase.
Important note
Calculated from the entered vehicle and operating values. Actual prices, financing terms, efficiency, maintenance, insurance, taxes, and resale outcomes can differ.
Frequently asked questions
Why is the financed amount higher than price minus down payment?
Sales tax and fees are added before down payment and trade-in credits are subtracted.
Does a lower monthly payment always mean a better loan?
No. A longer term can lower the payment while increasing total interest and keeping the balance outstanding longer.
Does this include depreciation?
No. It models the loan only; vehicle value is a separate ownership-cost issue.
Can I compare lender offers with this?
Yes, if the same financed amount, APR, term, and fees are entered for each offer.