Estimate the amount you’ll finance and the real cost of the loan. Include your down payment, trade-in, tax and fees, then test extra payments.
Fixed-rate monthly installment estimate • Calculated in your browserStandard schedule vs. extra payments
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Remaining loan balance
Blue: standard schedule. Green dashed: your plan.
Payment schedule
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How to estimate an auto loan payment
Start with the vehicle price and enter your down payment, trade-in value, amount still owed on the trade-in, tax rate, and fees. The calculator estimates how these affect the amount financed, then applies your annual interest rate and loan term.
How the amount financed is estimated
Trade-in equity equals the trade-in allowance minus the balance you still owe. Positive equity reduces the amount you need to finance; negative equity adds to it. We calculate sales tax using either the full vehicle price or the vehicle price less the trade-in allowance, according to your selection.
Estimated amount financed = vehicle price + sales tax + fees + old trade-in loan payoff − trade-in allowance − down payment. The result cannot be less than zero. This is a planning model: actual taxes, credits and fees depend on the transaction and local rules.
Worked example
For a $35,000 vehicle with $5,000 down, no trade-in, a $1,200 fee total, a 6% tax rate applied to the full vehicle price, and a 6.5% annual rate over 60 months, the estimated amount financed is $33,300. The scheduled principal-and-interest payment is about $651.47 per month. This is an illustration, not a dealer quote.
Why a longer term changes the total
A longer term generally spreads repayment over more payments and can lower the scheduled amount, while increasing the time during which interest accrues. Compare the monthly payment and total interest as you change the term. The calculator does not decide which term suits your budget.
Trade-in equity and amount owed
If your trade-in is worth more than the loan payoff, the difference is positive equity and reduces the new loan. If you owe more than the trade-in allowance, the remaining balance adds to the amount financed in this model. Confirm with the dealer or current lender how the old loan will be settled.
Extra principal payments
Optional extra payments reduce the modeled balance and may lower total interest or the number of payments. Check how the lender applies extra amounts and whether your contract has fees or restrictions. Those costs are not included.
Included and excluded costs
The estimate includes only the price, entered sales tax, entered transaction fees, trade-in amounts, down payment, and fixed-rate loan interest. It excludes sales tax rules not represented by your selected tax base, rebates, add-ons you did not include in price or fees, dealer financing charges, insurance, fuel, maintenance, registration renewals, and depreciation.
Formula
For a positive monthly rate r, principal P, and n monthly payments, the scheduled payment is P × r ÷ (1 − (1 + r)−n). The nominal annual rate is divided by 12. At a 0% rate, the payment is P ÷ n. Interest is calculated on the opening balance each month; the last payment is capped at the amount due.
Does this include insurance and running costs?
No. Add insurance, fuel, maintenance and other ownership costs separately to your budget. This tool calculates the vehicle financing payment only.
Is this a dealer quote or APR disclosure?
No. Dealer rates, APR, lender fees, optional products and exact tax rules can change the final contract. The selector and tax fields are user assumptions; this is not a jurisdiction-specific tax or APR calculation.
Results are estimates. Verify the amount financed, tax basis, rate and fees against your written offer.