Auto Loan Calculator
Free · no sign-up · reviewed July 2026
This auto loan calculator gives you the real monthly car payment, including sales tax, and shows how much interest you'll pay over the life of the loan.
Drag the price, down payment and APR, then tap a loan length. Longer terms lower the monthly payment but cost far more in total interest. The ring makes that trade-off obvious.
Drag to adjust
Your monthly car payment
$673.28
$33,600 financed over 60 months
💡 You'll pay $6,797 in interest over 5 years. The shorter your loan, the less this is.
- Vehicle (financed principal)$31,500
- Sales tax$2,100
- Interest$6,797
- Down + trade-in$3,500
- Amount financed
- $33,600
- Sales tax
- $2,100
- Total interest paid
- $6,797
- Total cost of loan
- $40,397
The 2-minute guide
Don't shop by monthly payment
Dealers love to negotiate around 'what monthly payment works for you,' because they can hit almost any number by stretching the loan longer. Focus on the total price and the APR instead. That's what actually decides how much the car costs you.
The 84-month trap
Long loans (72 or 84 months) make an expensive car feel affordable, but you'll pay far more interest and can end up 'underwater', owing more than the car is worth. If a shorter term's payment feels too high, that's often a sign the car is more than you should spend.
Get your own financing first
Walk in with a rate from your bank or credit union in hand. Then the dealer has to beat it to win your loan. Financing arranged at the dealer can be convenient but isn't always the cheapest option.
Frequently asked questions
Is a longer car loan a good idea?
A longer term (72 or 84 months) shrinks the monthly payment but raises the total interest a lot, and you can end up 'underwater', owing more than the car is worth. If you can afford it, a shorter term saves money.
How does a trade-in affect the loan?
Your trade-in value is subtracted from the price, so you finance less. In most states it also lowers the amount you pay sales tax on, which this calculator accounts for.
What's a good APR on a car loan?
It depends on your credit score and whether the car is new or used. Better credit means a lower APR. Always compare the APR from your own bank or credit union against the dealer's offer.
Related calculators
Embed this calculator
Free to use on your own site. Paste this where you want it to appear:
<iframe id="calcwise-auto-loan-calculator" src="https://calcwisehq.com/embed/auto-loan-calculator" title="Auto Loan Calculator by CalcWise" width="100%" height="640" style="border:0;max-width:600px;width:100%" loading="lazy"></iframe>
<script>window.addEventListener("message",function(e){if(e&&e.data&&e.data.type==="cw-embed-height"&&e.data.slug==="auto-loan-calculator"){var f=document.getElementById("calcwise-auto-loan-calculator");if(f){f.style.height=e.data.height+"px"}}});</script>
<p style="font:13px/1.4 system-ui,sans-serif;text-align:center;margin:6px 0">Powered by <a href="https://calcwisehq.com/calculators/auto-loan-calculator" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CalcWise</a></p>The little “Powered by CalcWise” link keeps it free. Thanks for the credit!