Auto loan calculator with sales tax
The calculator already has a $30,000 car with a 6% sales tax added to the loan, at an example 7% APR. Enter your own rate and fees.
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
How is sales tax added to a car loan?
The tax is the rate times the taxable price. On a $30,000 car at 6% it is $1,800. If you finance it, the loan is $31,800 instead of $30,000 and the payment goes from $594.04 to $629.68 a month.
Should I pay the sales tax up front?
Paying it at signing keeps the loan smaller and saves $338.53 in interest in this example, but it means more cash on the day you buy. The calculator shows both.
How sales tax affects a car payment
Sales tax is charged on the purchase and, if you add it to the loan, it raises the amount you borrow and the interest you pay on it. On a $30,000 car at an example 7% APR over 60 months, a 6% tax adds $1,800 to the loan and $35.64 to the monthly payment.
Payment on a $30,000 car by sales tax rate
| Sales tax rate | Tax | Amount financed | Payment at 7% for 60 months | Total interest | Cash due if you pay the tax at signing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0% | $0 | $30,000 | $594.04 | $5,642.12 | $0 |
| 4% | $1,200 | $31,200 | $617.80 | $5,867.85 | $1,200 |
| 6% | $1,800 | $31,800 | $629.68 | $5,980.65 | $1,800 |
| 8% | $2,400 | $32,400 | $641.56 | $6,093.49 | $2,400 |
| 10% | $3,000 | $33,000 | $653.44 | $6,206.44 | $3,000 |
Paying the tax at signing instead
If you pay the tax in cash when you sign, the loan stays at $30,000 and the payment at $594.04. The interest you would have paid on the tax is $338.53 at a 6% rate.
Fees and trade-ins
Fees such as title, registration, and dealer charges raise the total too. Whether they are taxed depends on the state: with $1,000 of fees, a 6% rate on the price alone gives a $649.48 payment, and taxing the fees as well gives $650.67. A trade-in can also lower the taxable amount in some states. Use the switches in the calculator to match your state’s rules and your dealer’s paperwork.
The tax rate that applies to you is the state rate plus any city or county tax. This calculator does not look rates up; enter the total shown in your paperwork.
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