Auto Loan Calculator

Most car-loan calculators only show the monthly payment. This one shows the monthly payment AND the total interest you'll pay over the life of the loan — the number that decides whether you can afford a car at this price, not whether the payment fits this month's budget. For a $30,000 loan at 7.5% over 60 months, you'll write a check for about $36,090 by the time the title is yours — $6,090 of pure interest on top of the sticker.

Plug in three numbers. Loan amount: the sticker price PLUS sales tax + title + doc fees MINUS your down payment and trade-in. APR: the rate the lender is offering (use our live rate table further down if you haven't shopped yet). Term: the length of the loan in months. Move the term slider to see how a 72- or 84-month loan dramatically lowers the monthly payment but balloons the total interest — that's the long-term cost most dealers won't show you.

Use the result to decide three things: whether the monthly payment fits comfortably under 10% of your gross monthly income (the affordability rule); whether the total interest is acceptable for the term you've chosen (over 60 months on a depreciating asset starts costing more than the car is worth); and whether the lender's offered APR is competitive with the average we publish in the rate table (if it's 1.5+ points higher, shop around).

This is an estimate, not a quote. Your actual APR depends on your credit score, debt-to-income, the vehicle's age + mileage, and whether you bring outside financing to the dealer. Dealers may also try to bundle GAP insurance, extended warranties, and dealer-add-ons into the loan — those raise the loan amount above what this calculator shows. Always get the out-the-door price in writing before financing.