Auto loan calculator.
Work out your real car payment, with taxes and fees included. Enter the price, your down payment and trade-in, the sales tax, term and rate to see the monthly payment, the amount financed, and what the car costs all in.
Estimate your payment
LiveMonthly payment
$648
over 5 years
Sales tax handling varies by state. Estimate for planning, not financial advice. Calculations run in your browser; nothing you enter is stored.
How it works
How your car payment is worked out
The amount you finance is the vehicle price, plus sales tax and fees, minus your down payment and any trade-in. The calculator amortizes that amount over your term to find the monthly payment, then shows the sales tax, the total interest, and the all-in cost of the car.
For a $35,000 car with $5,000 down, 7% sales tax and $300 in fees, financed at 7% over 5 years, the payment is about $648 a month and the amount financed is about $32,750.
Make it count
Pay less for the car.
Roll in or pay upfront
Tax and fees can be financed with the car or paid upfront. Paying them upfront means a smaller loan and less interest overall.
Mind the depreciation
A new car loses value fastest in the first years. A larger down payment helps you avoid owing more than the car is worth.
Cash-back vs low rate
Manufacturers often offer either a rebate or a low APR. Compare the cash saved now against the interest saved over the loan.
Year by year
Your car loan amortization schedule.
Early payments are mostly interest because the balance is largest at the start. As the balance falls, more of each payment goes to principal. The schedule below shows it for every year of the loan.
| Year | Principal paid | Interest paid | Balance |
|---|
The full guide
The complete car loan guide.
What really goes into a car payment, how tax and fees work, and the moves that lower the cost.
How a car payment is calculated
A car loan is a secured loan: the lender holds the title until you have paid it off, and can repossess the car if you default. The amount you actually finance is the vehicle price plus sales tax and any fees, minus your down payment and the value of a trade-in. That figure is then amortized over your term to give an equal monthly payment.
Because tax and fees are often rolled into the loan, the amount financed can be more than the sticker price. Putting more down, or paying the tax and fees upfront, shrinks the loan and the interest you pay on it.
Sales tax, title and fees on a car loan
Most states charge sales tax on a vehicle purchase, and it is usually applied to the price after any trade-in is deducted. On top of the tax you will see fees: title and registration paid to the state, plus a dealer documentation fee, and sometimes destination or advertising charges. These can be financed with the car or paid upfront.
Five states have no statewide sales tax: Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire and Oregon. Everywhere else, enter your combined local rate in the calculator to see the tax added to the amount financed, and use our sales tax calculator if you need to look the rate up.
How a trade-in changes your loan
A trade-in does two helpful things. It reduces the amount you need to finance, because its value comes off the price like an extra down payment. And in most states it also reduces the amount you are taxed on, since the sales tax is charged on the price minus the trade-in, not the full price.
A handful of states do not give that trade-in tax break and tax the full price instead. If you live in one of those, selling the old car privately can sometimes net more than trading it in, even after the extra hassle.
Rebates, cash-back and low-interest deals
To move cars, manufacturers often offer a choice: a cash rebate that lowers the price now, or a low promotional APR that lowers the interest over the loan. Which one wins depends on the numbers. A big rebate usually beats a low rate on a short loan or a small balance; a very low APR can win on a large, long loan.
Run both in the calculator: once with the rebate taken off the price at your normal rate, and once at the promotional rate with no rebate, and compare the total cost. Whichever total is lower is the better deal for you.
New vs used, leasing and paying cash
A new car depreciates fastest in its first few years, which is why a small down payment on a long loan can leave you underwater, owing more than the car is worth. A slightly used car sidesteps the steepest depreciation. A lease is essentially a long-term rental with a lower monthly cost but no ownership at the end.
Paying cash avoids interest entirely and caps you at what you can actually afford. Financing can still make sense when the rate is very low and the money could earn more elsewhere, but for most buyers a larger down payment and a shorter term is the cheaper path.
The formula
No black box.
Here is the math.
The amount financed is the price plus tax and fees, minus your down payment and trade-in. That is then amortized across the term at your monthly rate.
See the loan calculator ›# Amount financed
F = price + tax + fees − down − trade-in
# Monthly payment
M = F × [ r(1+r)ⁿ ] / [ (1+r)ⁿ − 1 ]
# worked example
$35,000 car, 7% tax, 7% / 5y → $648/moQuestions
Car loan questions.
How is a car payment calculated?
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The amount financed is the vehicle price plus sales tax and fees, minus your down payment and trade-in. That figure is amortized over your loan term at your monthly rate to give an equal monthly payment. Enter your numbers above and the calculator does it instantly.
How much car can I afford?
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A common guideline keeps the car payment under about 10 to 15% of your take-home pay and the loan at 60 months or less, with at least 20% down. Try different prices and terms above to find a payment you can comfortably carry.
Is sales tax included in a car loan?
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It can be. Many buyers roll the sales tax and fees into the loan, which raises the amount financed; you can also pay them upfront to borrow less. This calculator adds the tax and fees to the amount financed.
Does a trade-in lower my sales tax?
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In most states the trade-in value is subtracted from the price before tax, so you are taxed on the difference, which lowers the tax. A few states tax the full price regardless, so check the rule where you live.
Is this car loan calculator free and private?
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Yes. It is completely free with no sign-up, and every calculation runs locally in your browser, so nothing you enter is stored or sent anywhere.
About the developer
Jean Borg
Jean builds and maintains every calculator on freecalculators.pro from Malta, with a focus on tools that are fast, free and show their working. The auto loan calculator uses standard amortization maths and is provided for planning and education, not as personalised financial advice.