Car Payment Calculator
Estimate your monthly car payment from the price, down payment, trade-in, sales tax, rate, and term. See the amount financed and total interest.
| Vehicle price | $35,000 |
| Sales tax (7% on price − trade-in) | +$2,450 |
| Down payment | −$5,000 |
| Trade-in | −$0 |
| Amount financed | $32,450 |
| Total of payments (loan + interest) | $39,014 |
Estimate only. Most states tax the price after trade-in; a few tax the full price. Excludes title, registration, and dealer fees.
How to use this calculator
Enter the vehicle price, your down payment and trade-in, your sales tax rate, the interest rate (APR), and the term in months. The calculator shows your monthly payment, the amount financed, and total interest, with a breakdown of how the financed amount is built.
How car financing works
Your loan covers the vehicle price plus sales tax, minus anything you pay up front (down payment and trade-in). That amount is repaid in equal monthly installments that include interest. A bigger down payment or trade-in, a lower rate, or a shorter term all reduce the total interest you pay.
Worked example
A $35,000 car with $5,000 down, 7% sales tax, and 7.5% APR over 60 months finances about $32,100 and runs roughly $643/month. Lowering the term to 48 months raises the payment but cuts total interest.
Estimates only, and not a loan offer. Your actual rate depends on credit, lender, and incentives.
Frequently asked questions
How is a car payment calculated?
Take the vehicle price, add sales tax, subtract your down payment and trade-in to get the amount financed. Then apply the loan's interest rate over the term to get a fixed monthly payment.
Does a trade-in reduce my sales tax?
In most US states, yes — sales tax is charged on the price minus the trade-in value, which lowers your tax. A few states tax the full price. This calculator uses the price-minus-trade-in method.
What's a typical car loan term?
Common terms are 36, 48, 60, and 72 months. Longer terms lower the monthly payment but increase the total interest you pay, so a 72-month loan costs more overall than a 60-month one at the same rate.
Does this include taxes and fees?
It includes sales tax in the amount financed but not title, registration, documentation, or dealer fees, which vary by state and dealer. Add those separately for a complete out-the-door price.