Daily Figures Edition No Sign-Up Free Forever Vol. XII — No. 204
“The figures, plainly worked — a standing desk of free, no-nonsense calculators.”
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Car Payment Calculator

Enter price, down payment, trade-in, tax, rate and term to get your monthly car payment.

Monthly payment
Principal & interest.
Details
Amount financed
Sales tax
Total interest
Total cost
Show our math
Enter your figures above to see the step-by-step working.
Educational estimate — not a loan offerEverything computed client-side — nothing leaves this page

How the Car Payment Calculator Works

Your car payment is set by the amount you finance, the interest rate and the loan length. The amount financed is the vehicle price plus sales tax, minus your down payment and any trade-in. That figure amortizes over the term into equal monthly payments. A $35,000 car with $3,000 down, 6% sales tax and a 7% APR over 60 months runs about $675 a month.

A longer term lowers the monthly payment but adds interest and keeps you “underwater” longer. A bigger down payment or trade-in cuts both the payment and the total interest. Sales tax rules vary by state — many tax the price after the trade-in credit, which this calculator assumes.

payment = (price + tax − down − trade) amortized over the term

Frequently Asked Questions

How is a car payment calculated?

The price plus sales tax, minus your down payment and trade-in, is financed and amortized over the term at the loan’s rate, giving equal monthly payments.

Does a trade-in lower my sales tax?

In most states, yes — you’re taxed on the price after the trade-in credit, which lowers the tax and the amount financed. A few states tax the full price.

Should I take a longer loan for a lower payment?

A longer term lowers the monthly payment but you pay more interest overall and owe more than the car is worth for longer. Keep the term as short as the payment allows.

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