Car Payment Calculator
Estimate your monthly auto loan payment. Calculate total interest, loan cost, and see if you can afford the car with tax and fees included.
| Month | Payment | Principal | Interest | Balance |
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How Car Payments Are Calculated
Your monthly car payment is determined by the loan amount, interest rate, and term length. The calculator uses the standard auto loan amortization formula to give you an accurate estimate.
Loan Amount
Your loan amount is the car price minus your down payment and trade-in value, plus sales tax and fees. A larger down payment means a smaller loan and lower monthly payments.
Interest & Term
Your interest rate depends on credit score, loan term, and market conditions. Longer terms lower monthly payments but significantly increase total interest paid over the life of the loan.
The 20/4/10 Rule
A common affordability guideline: put 20% down, finance for no more than 4 years, and keep total car expenses under 10% of your gross monthly income. Our calculator checks this automatically.