Auto Loan Calculator
Runs in your browser — your data is never uploaded.
Work out what a car actually costs each month, including the two lines that generic loan calculators leave out: your trade-in, and sales tax charged on the price after that trade-in is deducted. In most states trading a car in lowers the taxable amount, which is often worth more than the negotiation around it. Download the full schedule when you are done — useful for checking a dealer's finance quote line by line.
How to use Auto Loan Calculator
- 1
Enter the vehicle price, your down payment and any trade-in value.
- 2
Add your state sales tax rate, the interest rate you have been offered, and the term.
- 3
Compare the monthly payment and total interest, then download the schedule to check against the dealer's paperwork.
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Frequently asked questions
Is sales tax charged on the full price or after the trade-in?+
In most US states, on the price after the trade-in is deducted — trading in a $10,000 car in a 7% state saves $700 in tax on top of the $10,000 itself. A handful of states tax the full price; this calculator uses the after-trade-in rule, which covers the large majority.
Why is the dealer's monthly payment lower than this?+
Usually a longer term. Stretching a loan from 60 to 84 months lowers the payment and raises the total interest substantially, and the payment is the number quoted on the showroom floor. Compare total interest, not the monthly figure.
What does a 0% promotional rate do here?+
It splits the amount financed evenly across the term with no interest, which the calculator handles directly. Worth checking against a cash rebate you might give up to get it — the rebate is sometimes worth more than the interest saved.
Should I include the down payment in the price?+
No. Enter the full vehicle price and the down payment separately, so sales tax is calculated on the price rather than on what you finance.