Auto Loan Calculators
Auto Loan Calculator
Vehicle finance is quoted as a monthly payment, which hides the effect of the term. Enter the price, deposit and rate to see both the payment and what the loan costs in total.
Estimated monthly payment
$609.93
- Amount financed
- $30,620
- Sales tax
- $1,920
- Total interest
- $5,976
- Total cost of the vehicle
- $40,596
- Interest
- Principal
Repayment schedule — yearly
| Year | Interest paid | Principal paid | Balance remaining |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2,047 | $5,272 | $25,348 |
| 2 | $1,652 | $5,667 | $19,681 |
| 3 | $1,227 | $6,092 | $13,588 |
| 4 | $770 | $6,549 | $7,040 |
| 5 | $280 | $7,040 | $0 |
How this calculator works
Financed = (price + tax + fees) − down payment − trade-in; M = Financed × r ÷ (1 − (1 + r)^−n)
- Financed
- the amount the lender actually advances
- r
- the monthly interest rate (annual rate ÷ 12)
- n
- the number of monthly payments
- M
- the monthly payment
Sales tax is applied to the vehicle price before the deposit is deducted, which is the common treatment.
Example calculation
Illustrative example — not advice
If you buy a $32,000 vehicle with $4,000 down at 7.25% over 60 months
- 01Sales tax at 6% adds $1,920 and fees add $700.
- 02The financed amount is $30,620 after the deposit.
- 03At 7.25% over 60 months the payment is about $610.
About $610 a month, with roughly $6,000 of interest over five years.
Stretching the same loan to 84 months lowers the payment but raises the interest bill by thousands. This is an illustrative example, not a finance quote.
Important considerations
- Longer terms lower the payment but increase the total cost and the time spent in negative equity.
- Advertised 0% offers often replace a cash discount, so compare the total cost of both routes.
- Insurance, servicing and fuel are ongoing costs this calculator does not include.
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Learn more
Terms used here
Frequently asked questions
Should I put down a larger deposit?
A larger deposit reduces the financed amount and therefore the interest, and it lowers the risk of owing more than the vehicle is worth. Weigh it against keeping a cash reserve.
Is a 84-month car loan a bad idea?
It lowers the monthly figure but typically costs far more in interest, and the vehicle usually depreciates faster than the balance falls in the early years.
Disclaimer
Calculator results are estimates for informational purposes only and may differ from actual rates, fees, taxes, terms or a lender's own calculations. Legamoney does not provide financial advice.
Last reviewed 2026-08-01