Car Payment Calculator
This car payment calculator shows your real monthly payment — not just a rough sticker-price estimate — by factoring in your trade-in value, down payment and sales tax the way dealers actually structure the deal. Enter your numbers to see the amount financed and the payment it produces.
The negotiated purchase price before tax.
What the dealer is crediting for your trade-in, if any.
Cash you're putting down, separate from any trade-in.
Your state/local rate — most US states tax the price minus your trade-in.
The rate on your auto loan.
Length of the loan in months.
Monthly payment
$539
How to use this car payment calculator
- 1Vehicle price: the negotiated purchase price, before tax.
- 2Trade-in value and down payment: both reduce the amount you finance, but most US states only apply sales tax after subtracting the trade-in — not the cash down payment.
- 3Sales tax rate: your state or local rate — check your DMV or dealer for the exact figure, since some states tax differently.
Understanding your results
Monthly payment is the number that actually hits your budget each month. Amount financed shows what you're really borrowing after every credit is applied — often meaningfully less than the sticker price once trade-in, down payment and even sales tax are netted out correctly.
The formula
Amount financed = Price + Sales tax − Trade-in − Down paymentSales tax is calculated on the price minus your trade-in (the standard treatment in most US states) before adding the tax back on top and then subtracting your cash down payment — this order matters, since taxing the pre-trade-in price would overstate your tax bill. The resulting loan amount is then amortized like a standard installment loan.
A worked example
A $32,000 vehicle with a $5,000 trade-in and $2,000 cash down, at 7% sales tax: taxable amount is $27,000 ($32,000 − $5,000), so sales tax is $1,890. Amount financed is $32,000 + $1,890 − $5,000 − $2,000 = $26,890. At 7.5% APR over 60 months, that's roughly $539/month.
Notes for the UK, US and India
Some states don't offer a trade-in sales tax credit at all — always confirm your state's specific rule rather than assuming this calculator's default treatment applies everywhere. Dealer add-ons (extended warranties, gap insurance, dealer fees) aren't included here and can meaningfully raise your actual amount financed if rolled into the loan.
Frequently asked questions
Does every state give a sales tax credit for trade-ins?+
No — most states do, but a handful (including California, for standard trade-ins, and a few others) tax the full purchase price regardless of trade-in. Check your state's specific rule.
Should I include dealer fees and add-ons in the vehicle price?+
For an accurate payment estimate, yes — add documentation fees, extended warranties, or any other rolled-in costs to the vehicle price field, since they increase what you're actually financing.
Is a longer loan term always cheaper per month?+
Yes, but at the cost of more total interest paid and a higher risk of owing more than the car is worth (being 'underwater') for longer — compare the total interest figure, not just the monthly payment, before choosing a longer term.