Car Loan Calculator | Payment & Total Cost
Calculate your monthly car payment and total auto loan cost
Include trade-in value, dealer fees, and taxes View full amortization schedule and compare...
When Should You Use This Calculator?
- Calculate monthly payments for a new car loan
- Compare financing options from different lenders
- Determine total cost including interest
- Plan your down payment and trade-in strategy
- Understand how loan term affects monthly payments
Key Features:
- Three modes: Simple, Cost Breakdown, and Schedule
- Down payment, trade-in, and dealer-fee aware financed principal
- Monthly payment, total cost, and interest-share context
- Schedule mode surfaces amortization timeline from start date
Frequently Asked Questions
How much should I put down on a car?
A common recommendation is 20% for new cars and 10% for used. A larger down payment lowers monthly payments, reduces total interest, and helps you avoid being "underwater" (owing more than the car is worth).
Does loan term affect interest rate?
Often yes. Longer terms (72 or 84 months) usually carry higher interest rates than shorter terms (36 or 48 months), and the extended period means significantly more total interest paid even if the monthly payment feels manageable.
How do trade-in value and dealer fees affect my loan?
Trade-in value directly reduces the amount you need to finance. Dealer fees (documentation, processing, registration) are typically added to the financed amount. Enter both in this calculator to see their net effect on monthly payment and total loan cost.
Should I finance through the dealer or my own bank?
Compare both. Dealers sometimes offer promotional rates (0% APR for qualified buyers) that beat banks. But dealers may also mark up the rate above what lenders offer them. Get pre-approved by your bank first — it gives you a benchmark and negotiating power at the dealership.
Can I export my Car Loan Calculator calculations?
Yes. In guest mode you can export your calculations to JSON. Signing in adds PDF and CSV export. Click the export button to download your results — useful for record-keeping, sharing, or importing into other tools.
Does this calculator save my history?
Yes. Your calculation history is saved automatically. As a guest you can keep up to 50 calculations per workspace on your device. Sign in for free to keep up to 100 per workspace and access them from any device.
Is this calculator free to use?
Yes. The Car Loan Calculator is free to use with no sign-up required. A free account adds more calculation history, multiple workspaces, and access to your saved data from any device.
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