Auto Loan Calculator
Calculate your estimated car payment using vehicle price, down payment, trade-in value, sales tax, APR, and term. For example, a $30,000 car with $5,000 down at 7% APR for 60 months has an estimated payment of about $495. See your total interest, payoff schedule, and how extra payments save money.
Vehicle Details
Enter the vehicle price, financing, and tax info.
Optional extra monthly principal payment.
Payment Summary
Estimated costs over your loan term.
Monthly Payment
$634.92
5 yr at 6.5% APR
Total Loan Amount
$32,450
Total Interest
$5,645
Total Paid
$38,095
Total Tax
$2,450
Full Amortization Schedule
Each row shows the monthly payment broken into principal and interest, plus the remaining balance.
| Month | Payment | Principal | Interest | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | ||||
| 1 | $634.92 | $459.15 | $175.77 | $31,990.85 |
| 2 | $634.92 | $461.64 | $173.28 | $31,529.21 |
| 3 | $634.92 | $464.14 | $170.78 | $31,065.07 |
| 4 | $634.92 | $466.65 | $168.27 | $30,598.42 |
| 5 | $634.92 | $469.18 | $165.74 | $30,129.24 |
| 6 | $634.92 | $471.72 | $163.20 | $29,657.52 |
| 7 | $634.92 | $474.28 | $160.64 | $29,183.24 |
| 8 | $634.92 | $476.85 | $158.08 | $28,706.40 |
| 9 | $634.92 | $479.43 | $155.49 | $28,226.97 |
| 10 | $634.92 | $482.03 | $152.90 | $27,744.94 |
| 11 | $634.92 | $484.64 | $150.29 | $27,260.31 |
| 12 | $634.92 | $487.26 | $147.66 | $26,773.05 |
| Year 2 | ||||
| 13 | $634.92 | $489.90 | $145.02 | $26,283.14 |
| 14 | $634.92 | $492.55 | $142.37 | $25,790.59 |
| 15 | $634.92 | $495.22 | $139.70 | $25,295.37 |
| 16 | $634.92 | $497.90 | $137.02 | $24,797.46 |
| 17 | $634.92 | $500.60 | $134.32 | $24,296.86 |
| 18 | $634.92 | $503.31 | $131.61 | $23,793.55 |
| 19 | $634.92 | $506.04 | $128.88 | $23,287.51 |
| 20 | $634.92 | $508.78 | $126.14 | $22,778.73 |
| 21 | $634.92 | $511.54 | $123.38 | $22,267.19 |
| 22 | $634.92 | $514.31 | $120.61 | $21,752.88 |
| 23 | $634.92 | $517.09 | $117.83 | $21,235.79 |
| 24 | $634.92 | $519.89 | $115.03 | $20,715.89 |
| Year 3 | ||||
| 25 | $634.92 | $522.71 | $112.21 | $20,193.18 |
| 26 | $634.92 | $525.54 | $109.38 | $19,667.64 |
| 27 | $634.92 | $528.39 | $106.53 | $19,139.25 |
| 28 | $634.92 | $531.25 | $103.67 | $18,608.00 |
| 29 | $634.92 | $534.13 | $100.79 | $18,073.88 |
| 30 | $634.92 | $537.02 | $97.90 | $17,536.85 |
| 31 | $634.92 | $539.93 | $94.99 | $16,996.92 |
| 32 | $634.92 | $542.85 | $92.07 | $16,454.07 |
| 33 | $634.92 | $545.80 | $89.13 | $15,908.27 |
| 34 | $634.92 | $548.75 | $86.17 | $15,359.52 |
| 35 | $634.92 | $551.72 | $83.20 | $14,807.80 |
| 36 | $634.92 | $554.71 | $80.21 | $14,253.09 |
| Year 4 | ||||
| 37 | $634.92 | $557.72 | $77.20 | $13,695.37 |
| 38 | $634.92 | $560.74 | $74.18 | $13,134.63 |
| 39 | $634.92 | $563.78 | $71.15 | $12,570.85 |
| 40 | $634.92 | $566.83 | $68.09 | $12,004.02 |
| 41 | $634.92 | $569.90 | $65.02 | $11,434.12 |
| 42 | $634.92 | $572.99 | $61.93 | $10,861.14 |
| 43 | $634.92 | $576.09 | $58.83 | $10,285.05 |
| 44 | $634.92 | $579.21 | $55.71 | $9,705.84 |
| 45 | $634.92 | $582.35 | $52.57 | $9,123.49 |
| 46 | $634.92 | $585.50 | $49.42 | $8,537.99 |
| 47 | $634.92 | $588.67 | $46.25 | $7,949.31 |
| 48 | $634.92 | $591.86 | $43.06 | $7,357.45 |
| Year 5 | ||||
| 49 | $634.92 | $595.07 | $39.85 | $6,762.38 |
| 50 | $634.92 | $598.29 | $36.63 | $6,164.09 |
| 51 | $634.92 | $601.53 | $33.39 | $5,562.56 |
| 52 | $634.92 | $604.79 | $30.13 | $4,957.76 |
| 53 | $634.92 | $608.07 | $26.85 | $4,349.70 |
| 54 | $634.92 | $611.36 | $23.56 | $3,738.34 |
| 55 | $634.92 | $614.67 | $20.25 | $3,123.67 |
| 56 | $634.92 | $618.00 | $16.92 | $2,505.66 |
| 57 | $634.92 | $621.35 | $13.57 | $1,884.31 |
| 58 | $634.92 | $624.71 | $10.21 | $1,259.60 |
| 59 | $634.92 | $628.10 | $6.82 | $631.50 |
| 60 | $634.92 | $631.50 | $3.42 | $0.00 |
Methodology and limitations
Last reviewed:
Methodology
Estimates amount financed from vehicle price, down payment, trade-in, sales tax, APR, term, and optional extra principal payments.
Limitations
Planning estimate only. Dealer fees, registration, insurance, add-ons, taxes, and lender-specific disclosures can change the real loan cost.
Official sources
How to Use the Auto Loan Calculator
Calculate your estimated car payment using vehicle price, down payment, trade-in value, sales tax, APR, and term. For example, a $30,000 car with $5,000 down at 7% APR for 60 months has an estimated payment of about $495. See your total interest, payoff schedule, and how extra payments save money.
Method used
This calculator estimates the financed amount from vehicle price, down payment, trade-in, and tax, then uses APR and term to calculate payment and schedule.
Practical example
Example: compare a 60-month and 72-month term on the same vehicle price to see the tradeoff between monthly payment and total interest.
What this includes
- Includes vehicle price, down payment, trade-in, sales tax, APR, and term.
- Shows estimated payment, interest, total paid, and an amortization schedule.
What this excludes
- Does not include insurance, registration, maintenance, or dealer-specific fees.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is an auto loan payment calculated?
The calculator estimates the amount financed after subtracting your down payment and trade-in value and adding applicable sales tax, then applies the annual percentage rate (APR) and loan term to compute a fixed monthly payment using standard amortization. Enter vehicle price, down payment, trade-in, tax rate, APR, and term in months to see your estimated payment, total interest, and full amortization schedule. Dealer fees, documentation charges, and optional add-ons are not included unless you add them to the vehicle price.
Does trade-in value lower the loan?
Yes. Trade-in value reduces the amount you need to finance, which lowers both your monthly payment and total interest paid over the loan term. Depending on your state's tax rules, trade-in value may also reduce the taxable vehicle price - some states tax only the difference between the new car price and trade-in value. Enter your expected trade-in amount to see how it affects the financed balance and monthly payment in this calculator.
Should I choose a shorter auto loan term?
A shorter term - such as 36 or 48 months - typically carries a higher monthly payment but significantly less total interest over the life of the loan. Longer terms like 72 or 84 months reduce the monthly payment and may let you afford a more expensive vehicle, but you pay more interest and risk owing more than the car is worth early in the loan. Compare total interest across terms before choosing based on monthly payment alone.
Does this include insurance or registration?
No. The estimate focuses on the loan payment and sales tax only. Auto insurance, registration fees, title fees, maintenance, fuel, and dealer documentation charges should be budgeted separately when calculating your true cost of vehicle ownership. Lenders require full coverage insurance, which can add $100 to $200 or more per month depending on your vehicle, location, and driving record - factor that in alongside the loan payment.
What is a good interest rate for a car loan?
Auto loan rates depend on your credit score, loan term, vehicle age, and whether you finance through a dealer or credit union. As of 2026, borrowers with excellent credit may qualify for rates under 6%, while subprime borrowers can see rates above 12%. Shop multiple lenders - banks, credit unions, and online lenders - before accepting dealer financing. Even a 1% rate difference on a $30,000 loan saves hundreds in interest over a 60-month term.