SlickCalc

Car Payment Calculator

Calculate your monthly auto loan payment including sales tax, trade-in credit, and registration fees. See total interest and a full amortization breakdown.

Loan Details
Results

Monthly Payment

$655.91

Loan Amount

$33,125

Total Interest

$6,230

Sales Tax

$2,625

Total Cost

$44,355

Amortization Schedule
MonthPrincipalInterestBalance
1$462.69$193.23$32,662.31
2$465.38$190.53$32,196.93
3$468.10$187.82$31,728.83
4$470.83$185.08$31,258.00
5$473.58$182.34$30,784.42
6$476.34$179.58$30,308.09
7$479.12$176.80$29,828.97
8$481.91$174.00$29,347.06
9$484.72$171.19$28,862.33
10$487.55$168.36$28,374.78
11$490.40$165.52$27,884.39
12$493.26$162.66$27,391.13
13$496.13$159.78$26,895.00
14$499.03$156.89$26,395.97
15$501.94$153.98$25,894.03
16$504.87$151.05$25,389.17
17$507.81$148.10$24,881.35
18$510.77$145.14$24,370.58
19$513.75$142.16$23,856.83
20$516.75$139.16$23,340.08
21$519.76$136.15$22,820.31
22$522.80$133.12$22,297.52
23$525.85$130.07$21,771.67
24$528.91$127.00$21,242.76
25$532.00$123.92$20,710.76
26$535.10$120.81$20,175.66
27$538.22$117.69$19,637.43
28$541.36$114.55$19,096.07
29$544.52$111.39$18,551.55
30$547.70$108.22$18,003.85
31$550.89$105.02$17,452.96
32$554.11$101.81$16,898.85
33$557.34$98.58$16,341.52
34$560.59$95.33$15,780.93
35$563.86$92.06$15,217.07
36$567.15$88.77$14,649.92
37$570.46$85.46$14,079.46
38$573.78$82.13$13,505.68
39$577.13$78.78$12,928.55
40$580.50$75.42$12,348.05
41$583.88$72.03$11,764.16
42$587.29$68.62$11,176.87
43$590.72$65.20$10,586.16
44$594.16$61.75$9,992.00
45$597.63$58.29$9,394.37
46$601.11$54.80$8,793.25
47$604.62$51.29$8,188.63
48$608.15$47.77$7,580.49
49$611.70$44.22$6,968.79
50$615.26$40.65$6,353.53
51$618.85$37.06$5,734.67
52$622.46$33.45$5,112.21
53$626.09$29.82$4,486.12
54$629.75$26.17$3,856.37
55$633.42$22.50$3,222.95
56$637.11$18.80$2,585.84
57$640.83$15.08$1,945.01
58$644.57$11.35$1,300.44
59$648.33$7.59$652.11
60$652.11$3.80$0.00

This calculator is for estimation. Actual loan terms, dealer fees, and tax rules vary by state and lender. Confirm final numbers with your dealer and lender before signing.

How Car Loan Payments Work

Your car payment is the monthly cost of repaying a loan used to buy a vehicle. The size of the payment depends on four numbers: how much you finance (vehicle price minus down payment and trade-in, plus sales tax and fees), the annual interest rate (APR), the loan term in months, and the repayment structure. This auto loan calculator uses the standard amortized formula M = P[r(1+r)^n] / [(1+r)^n − 1], the same math used by lenders, where P is the financed amount, r is the monthly rate (APR ÷ 12), and n is the total months.

Sales tax is the most commonly underestimated cost when buying a car. Most U.S. states tax the vehicle price minus your trade-in (the calculator default), but a few states — California, Virginia, Hawaii, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, and Montana — tax the full vehicle price with no trade-in credit. The difference can be hundreds or thousands of dollars on a $30K vehicle. The 'Trade-in reduces sales tax' checkbox lets you switch between the two cases. If you're not sure, ask your dealer — they'll tell you exactly how it's calculated in your state.

Other fees stack up quickly: registration fees ($50-$500 depending on state), documentation or 'doc' fees ($100-$800 charged by the dealer for paperwork), title fees, local taxes, and emissions or smog fees in some states. These are typically rolled into the financed amount, which means you also pay interest on them over the life of the loan. Use the 'Other Fees' field to model your total out-the-door cost — not just the sticker price.

Loan term is the biggest lever on the monthly payment, but also the biggest trap. A 72- or 84-month term lowers your monthly payment significantly but increases total interest by thousands and risks going underwater (owing more than the car is worth) because cars depreciate faster than the loan balance drops. For most buyers, 48-60 months is the sweet spot. The preset buttons in this calculator (36 / 48 / 60 / 72 / 84) let you compare term lengths side by side. For a deeper look at amortization mechanics, see our general loan calculator.

Before signing, compare your total cost — not just the monthly payment — against the vehicle's value. A $30,000 car at 7% APR over 60 months costs about $35,640 total when you include interest. Negotiating the price down by $1,000 saves you more over the loan life than getting a 0.25% lower rate. Also check whether you'd be better off saving the down payment and renting / using ride-share — the rent vs buy framework applies to cars too if you're a low-mileage driver.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is the monthly car payment calculated?
The calculator first builds the financed amount: vehicle price − down payment − trade-in + sales tax + fees. Then it applies the standard amortization formula M = P[r(1+r)^n] / [(1+r)^n − 1] where P is financed amount, r is the monthly rate (APR ÷ 12), and n is the loan term in months. Each month's payment is split between interest (calculated on the remaining balance) and principal.
Does this include sales tax and dealer fees?
Yes. Enter your state's sales tax rate (typically 4-8%) and your total registration/doc/other fees in the Trade-in, Sales Tax & Fees section. The calculator adds them to the financed amount, so the monthly payment you see is what you'd actually pay — not just principal and interest.
How does a trade-in affect my car loan?
A trade-in reduces the financed amount directly (you owe less). In most states, it also reduces the sales tax base, so you pay tax only on the difference between the new car and your trade-in. A handful of states — California, Virginia, Hawaii, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, and Montana — tax the full price regardless. Use the checkbox to model both cases.
What's a reasonable interest rate on a car loan?
As of 2026, average new-car APRs range from about 5% for excellent credit (740+ FICO) to 13%+ for subprime credit (under 600). Used cars typically run 1-2% higher. Manufacturer 'promotional' rates of 0-2.9% exist but usually require near-perfect credit. If your offered rate is more than 2-3% above the average for your credit tier, shop other lenders before signing.
Is 36, 48, 60, 72, or 84 months better?
Shorter terms (36-48 months) cost less total interest but require higher monthly payments. Longer terms (72-84 months) lower the monthly payment but you pay much more in interest and risk being underwater (owing more than the car is worth). For most buyers, 60 months is the standard sweet spot. Avoid 84 months unless absolutely necessary — the depreciation curve almost guarantees you'll owe more than the car is worth for several years.
How much should I put down on a car?
The traditional rule is 20% down on a new car, 10% on a used car. This avoids going underwater immediately due to depreciation. If you're financing 100%, expect to owe more than the car is worth for the first 1-2 years, which is risky if it's totaled or you need to sell. Use the down payment field to compare scenarios — even $2,000 extra down saves several hundred dollars in interest over a 60-month loan.

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