$30,000 car payment calculator
The calculator already has a $30,000 car filled in, with an example 7% APR and a 60-month term. Change the APR, down payment, trade-in, and sales tax to match your offer.
Enter the vehicle price and the APR to see your monthly payment.
How the loan amount is built
| Item | Amount |
|---|
Compare loan terms
| Term | Payment | Total interest |
|---|
Same amount and same APR for every term. A longer term lowers the payment but costs more in interest. Lenders often charge a higher APR for longer terms, so use the rate each offer quotes.
Amortization schedule
| No. | Payment | Principal | Interest | Balance |
|---|
How it’s calculated
- Loan amount
price + sales tax + fees − down payment − trade-in equity- Payment
payment = loan × r ÷ (1 − (1 + r)^−n), with r = APR ÷ 12 and n = months- With your numbers
—
An estimate, not a loan offer
This assumes a simple-interest loan with equal monthly payments, the first one a month after you sign. Your lender’s numbers can differ by a few cents or more, and they decide the APR, the fees, and how your state taxes the sale. It is not financial or tax advice.For the steps of getting an auto loan and what is negotiable, see the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Auto loans guide (link verified on October 8, 2026; no figures are taken from it).
How to use it
- Enter the vehicle price, the APR from your offer, and choose the loan term.
- Add your down payment in dollars or as a percent of the price.
- If you trade in a car, enter its value and what you still owe on it.
- Enter your sales tax rate and fees, and turn the switches to match how your state taxes the sale.
- Read the monthly payment, total interest, term comparison, and amortization schedule. Download the schedule as a CSV.
Frequently asked questions
What is the monthly payment on a $30,000 car?
At an example 7% APR for 60 months with nothing down and before tax, it is $594.04 a month. At 48 months it is $718.39 and at 72 months $511.47.
How much does a down payment lower a $30,000 car payment?
With 10% down ($3,000), the same 60-month loan at 7% is $534.63 a month, $59.41 less than with nothing down.
How much interest do you pay on a $30,000 car loan?
At 7% APR for 60 months, about $5,642.12. A 48-month loan costs $4,482.61 in interest and an 84-month loan costs $8,033.53.
A $30,000 car payment
Financing a $30,000 car for 60 months at an example 7% APR, with nothing down and before sales tax, costs $594.04 a month. Over the life of the loan you pay $5,642.12 in interest, $35,642.12 in total.
Monthly payment on $30,000 by APR and term
| APR | 48 months | 60 months | 72 months | 84 months |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4% | $677.37 | $552.50 | $469.36 | $410.06 |
| 6% | $704.55 | $579.98 | $497.19 | $438.26 |
| 8% | $732.39 | $608.29 | $526.00 | $467.59 |
| 10% | $760.88 | $637.41 | $555.78 | $498.04 |
| 12% | $790.02 | $667.33 | $586.51 | $529.58 |
Each row is a rate and each column a loan term, for a loan of the full $30,000. Moving down one row, 2 points of APR add about $27.48 to $29.92 a month on a 60-month loan.
How a down payment changes it
| Down payment | Amount financed | Payment at 7% for 60 months | Total interest |
|---|---|---|---|
| None | $30,000 | $594.04 | $5,642.12 |
| 10% ($3,000) | $27,000 | $534.63 | $5,077.97 |
| 20% ($6,000) | $24,000 | $475.23 | $4,513.73 |
Adding sales tax
| Sales tax rate | Tax | Amount financed | Payment at 7% for 60 months |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0% | $0 | $30,000 | $594.04 |
| 5% | $1,500 | $31,500 | $623.74 |
| 7% | $2,100 | $32,100 | $635.62 |
| 9% | $2,700 | $32,700 | $647.50 |
The tax is added to the loan here. A trade-in, fees, and how your state taxes them change the total, so enter yours in the calculator.
What a $30,000 car payment fits
If you want to keep the car payment at or below 15% of your take-home pay, a $594.04 payment means about $3,960 of take-home pay a month. That share is a personal guideline, not a rule. Stretching the loan from 48 to 84 months lowers the payment but adds $3,550.92 in interest at this rate.
These are estimates with example rates, not offers. Your APR depends on your credit, the lender, and the vehicle, so replace it with the rate on your own offer in the auto loan calculator.
Updated on October 8, 2026