Know your car payment before you buy
A car is a big purchase, and the monthly payment can stretch a budget further than people expect once interest is added. This free auto loan calculator shows your monthly car payment, the total interest you'll pay, and the full cost of the loan — accounting for your down payment, trade-in and sales tax. Adjust any number and the result updates instantly so you can find a payment that fits.
It works in several currencies and runs entirely in your browser, so it's private and free with no signup. Use it to compare loan terms, test different down payments, or check whether a dealer's offer is fair before you sign.
How to use it
- Pick your currency and enter the vehicle price.
- Add your down payment and any trade-in value.
- Set the loan term (in months) and the APR, plus sales tax if it applies.
- Read your monthly payment, total interest and total cost.
How the payment is worked out
First the tool finds the amount you actually finance: the vehicle price, plus any sales tax, minus your down payment and trade-in. It then applies the standard loan formula using your APR and term to spread that amount plus interest into equal monthly payments. Early payments include more interest and later ones more principal, but the monthly amount stays the same on a fixed-rate loan.
Term length: lower payment vs less interest
Stretching a loan over more months lowers the monthly payment, which looks attractive — but you pay interest for longer, so the total cost rises and you can end up "upside down", owing more than the car is worth. A shorter term costs more each month but far less overall and builds equity faster. Try a 36, 48 and 60-month term in the calculator to see the trade-off clearly.
Tips to pay less
Put down as much as you comfortably can, since every bit reduces both the payment and the interest. Shop the APR around — banks and credit unions often beat dealer financing — and improve your credit score first if you can, as it directly affects your rate. Finally, be wary of focusing only on the monthly figure; always check the total cost, which is where a long term quietly gets expensive.
Don't forget the other costs of owning a car
The loan payment is only part of what a car costs. Budget for insurance, fuel, registration and taxes, routine maintenance and the occasional repair — together these can rival the loan payment itself. New cars cost more to buy but less to fix early on and may qualify for lower finance rates; used cars are cheaper upfront but can carry higher rates and more maintenance. Use this calculator for the financing piece, then add realistic running costs so you know the true monthly cost of putting the car on the road.
Free, private and currency-flexible
There's no signup and no limit, and the maths happens on your device so your details stay private. Switch currencies and rerun as often as you like. The results are estimates for planning — confirm the exact figures with your lender before committing.