Car Payment Calculator

Estimate your monthly car payment from the vehicle price, down payment, trade-in, sales tax, loan term, and APR. See total interest and the full cost of the loan.

Estimated Monthly Payment
over your loan term
Amount financed
Sales tax
Total interest paid
Total of payments
Total cost (incl. down + trade)

How Your Car Payment Is Calculated

Your monthly payment depends on the amount you finance, your interest rate, and your loan term. The amount financed is the vehicle price plus sales tax, minus your down payment and trade-in. That balance is then amortized over your term using the standard loan payment formula, so each payment covers interest plus a slice of principal.

Payment = Loan × r ÷ (1 − (1 + r)^−n)

How to Lower Your Car Payment

Four levers move your payment: a larger down payment, a lower price (negotiate or buy used), a better interest rate (shop your credit union and banks, not just the dealer), and a longer term. Be careful with long terms — stretching to 72 or 84 months lowers the monthly payment but sharply increases total interest and the risk of owing more than the car is worth.