Car payment calculator
The calculator already has an example $30,000 car, 7% APR, and 60 months filled in. Replace them with the numbers from 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
How do you calculate a monthly car payment?
Multiply the loan amount by the monthly rate (APR ÷ 12), then divide by 1 − (1 + monthly rate)^−months. For $30,000 at 7% for 60 months, the payment is $594.04.
How much does the APR change a car payment?
On $30,000 over 60 months, 4% APR is $552.50 a month and 12% APR is $667.33.
Does the payment include insurance?
No. The calculator covers the loan only. Car insurance, fuel, and maintenance are separate costs that you pay on top of the payment.
How to calculate a car payment
Start from the amount you borrow: the price plus sales tax and fees, minus your down payment and trade-in equity. The monthly payment is that amount times the monthly rate, divided by 1 − (1 + rate)^−months, where the monthly rate is the APR divided by 12. For $30,000 at an example 7% APR over 60 months, that is $594.04.
Payment per $1,000 borrowed
| APR | 48 months | 60 months | 72 months | 84 months |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4% | $22.58 | $18.42 | $15.65 | $13.67 |
| 6% | $23.49 | $19.33 | $16.57 | $14.61 |
| 8% | $24.41 | $20.28 | $17.53 | $15.59 |
| 10% | $25.36 | $21.25 | $18.53 | $16.60 |
| 12% | $26.33 | $22.24 | $19.55 | $17.65 |
Multiply the number in the table by the thousands you borrow. For $24,000, take the 60-month, 6% figure of $19.33 and multiply by 24: $463.92. The result can differ from the exact calculator by a few dollars because each payment is rounded to the cent.
What changes the payment most
The amount borrowed, the APR, and the term. On $30,000 over 60 months, moving from 4% to 12% takes the payment from $552.50 to $667.33. Sales tax and fees add to the amount borrowed unless you pay them at signing.
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