Calculators

Free Car Payment Calculator: Monthly Auto Loan Payment

Free, no sign-up, works in your browser. Enter the car's price, your down payment, trade-in, interest rate (APR), loan term, sales tax and fees to see your monthly car payment, the total interest and what the car costs you in all. Works for new and used cars, and for paying tax and fees up front or rolling them into the loan. An estimate, not financial advice.

Optional
Optional. Added to the new loan.
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Optional
Monthly payment
$611.25
Total interest
$5,434.71
Total cost of the car
$39,674.71
Amount financed
$31,240.00
Sales tax
$2,240.00
Cash due up front
$3,000.00

60 monthly payments add up to $36,674.71.

Total cost is the price plus sales tax, fees and interest. Your trade-in is not counted as a cost, because it pays for part of the price.

Want to see where each payment goes?

The amortization calculator lists every payment, how much of it is interest, and what an extra payment would save.

Open the amortization calculator

An estimate, not financial advice. Your lender's figures can differ because of dealer fees, rounding and how interest is counted. Your numbers stay on your device.

Why use the Car Payment Calculator

Tax, fees and trade-in in one place
Most simple calculators skip them. Here you can add sales tax, fees, a trade-in and what's still owed on it.
Total cost, not just the payment
See the total interest and what the car costs you in all, so a low payment doesn't hide a high price.
Your numbers stay with you
The sums happen in your browser, and nothing you type leaves your device.
100% free
Use it as often as you like. No sign-up, no watermark, nothing to install.
Private by design
What you type stays in your browser and is never sent to us.
Works on any device
Runs in your browser on Windows, Mac, Linux, Android and iPhone. No app needed.

Who it's for

Before you visit a dealer
Work out a monthly payment you're comfortable with, so you can tell a good offer from a stretch.
Comparing two cars
Put in each price and see how a few thousand dollars changes the payment and the total interest.
Checking a dealer's quote
Enter the same price, rate and term as the quote and see whether the payment and fees add up.
Choosing a loan term
See how 48, 60 and 72 months trade a lower payment for more interest.
Planning a trade-in
See what your old car's value, or what you still owe on it, does to the new loan.

How Car Payment Calculator compares

Your lender's own calculator
A bank or credit union's calculator uses its real rates and fees, which this one can't know. Use this page to compare terms first, then check the final numbers with the lender.
Car-buying sites
Sites like Edmunds and Kelley Blue Book have car loan calculators tied to listings and local rates. This one is simpler and keeps your numbers private.
A spreadsheet
The PMT function in Excel or Google Sheets gives the same monthly payment. This page also adds tax, fees, trade-in and the total cost as you type.

How to use the Car Payment Calculator

  1. Enter the vehicle price and your down payment. Add the trade-in value, and what you still owe on it, if you have one.
  2. Enter the interest rate (APR) and the loan term, in months or years.
  3. Add your sales tax rate and any fees, and choose whether tax and fees go into the loan or are paid at signing.
  4. Read your monthly payment, the total interest and the total cost. The numbers update as you type.

Frequently asked questions

How is a car payment calculated?
The lender works out how much you borrow: the price, minus your down payment and trade-in, plus sales tax and fees if they're financed. Then it spreads that amount over the term at your interest rate with the standard loan formula, M = P × r ÷ (1 − (1 + r)^−n), where r is the monthly rate (APR ÷ 12) and n is the number of months. For example, $25,000 at 6% for 60 months comes to $483.32 a month.
What's the difference between APR and the interest rate?
The interest rate is the cost of borrowing the money. The APR also folds in some lender fees, so it's the better number for comparing offers. This calculator treats the rate you enter as the loan's yearly rate, compounded monthly, which is how most car loans work. Ask your lender which rate your payment is based on.
Does the calculator include sales tax and fees?
Yes. Enter your state's sales tax rate and your fees (title, registration, dealer or documentation fees). By default the tax is worked out on the price minus your trade-in, which is how most US states do it. If your state taxes the full price, switch that off. You can also switch off 'Add tax and fees to the loan' to see the cash you'd need at signing instead.
How does a trade-in change my payment?
A trade-in worth more than you owe lowers the amount you borrow, like a down payment. If you owe more than the car is worth (negative equity), enter what you still owe and the calculator adds it to the new loan, which raises both your payment and the interest you pay.
Is a longer loan term a good idea?
A longer term gives a lower monthly payment but costs more in total, because you pay interest for longer. A 72 or 84 month loan can also leave you owing more than the car is worth for years. Try the same loan at 48, 60 and 72 months and compare the total interest before you decide.
How much should I put down on a car?
There's no single right answer. A common rule of thumb is 20% down on a new car and 10% on a used one, which helps you avoid owing more than the car is worth. Put a few amounts into the calculator and see how much each one lowers your payment and your interest.
Is the car payment calculator free, and is my data kept?
Yes, it's free to use and needs no account. The sums run in your browser, and the numbers you type stay on your device. It's an estimate: your lender's figures can differ because of dealer fees, rounding and how interest is counted.

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