ToolBark
Finance

Auto Loan Calculator

Know your monthly payment before you sign anything.

Vehicle & Loan Details

Leave 0 if no existing loan on trade-in.

Loan Summary

Monthly Payment$492.28for 60 months
Loan Amount$25,160after down & trade-in
Total Interest$4,37717.4% of loan
Total Cost$29,537principal + interest

Total Payment Breakdown

Principal (85%)Interest (15%)
Vehicle Price$32,000.00
Down Payment− $4,000.00
Trade-In Equity− $5,000.00
Sales Tax (8%)+ $2,160.00
Loan Principal$25,160.00
Total Interest Paid$4,377.06
Monthly Payment$492.28
Total Amount Paid$29,537.06

Term Comparison

See how different loan terms affect your monthly payment at 6.5% APR on a $25,160.00 loan:

Amortization Schedule

Month-by-month breakdown of principal vs. interest for all 60 payments.

Disclaimer: Results are estimates for illustration only. Sales tax treatment varies by state — some states tax the full vehicle price rather than price minus trade-in. Actual loan terms, fees (documentation, registration, dealer fees), and interest rates depend on your lender and credit profile. Consult your dealer or lender for exact figures.

About

Use our free auto loan calculator to find your exact monthly car payment before visiting the dealership. Simply enter the vehicle price, down payment, trade-in value and any amount owed on it, your local sales tax rate, the APR offered by your lender, and the loan term — and get an instant breakdown of principal, total interest, and a full month-by-month amortization schedule.

FAQ
How is my monthly car payment calculated?+

The calculator uses the standard loan amortization formula: M = P × [r(1+r)^n] / [(1+r)^n − 1], where P is the loan principal, r is the monthly interest rate (APR ÷ 12), and n is the total number of monthly payments. Your principal equals the vehicle price minus your down payment, minus trade-in equity, plus applicable sales tax.

Does trade-in value reduce my loan amount?+

Yes. Your trade-in equity (trade-in value minus any amount still owed on the old vehicle) is subtracted from the vehicle price before the loan is calculated. If you owe more than the trade-in is worth (negative equity), that shortfall is added to your new loan principal.

Is sales tax included in the loan?+

Yes, by default this calculator rolls sales tax into the financed amount, which is the most common scenario. Sales tax is applied to the vehicle price minus the trade-in value, since most U.S. states exempt the trade-in portion from tax. You can set the tax rate to 0% if your state has no sales tax or if you are paying tax out of pocket.

Why does a longer loan term mean paying more overall?+

A longer term lowers your monthly payment but spreads the interest over more months, so the lender earns more in total. For example, a 72-month loan at 6.5% APR can cost hundreds more in interest than a 48-month loan on the same principal, even though the monthly payment is lower. Use the term comparison panel in the calculator to see the trade-off at a glance.

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