Estimate a car payment with price, down payment, trade-in, sales tax and fees – and compare 36- to 84-month terms by total interest, not just the monthly number.
By TanLabs · Formulas cross-checked against the free spreadsheet · Updated 2026-10-31 · Runs in your browser – nothing you type is sent anywhere
With car price $32,000, down payment $4,000, trade-in value $0, sales tax 6%, dealer & registration fees $800, APR 7%, loan term 60 months:
Monthly payment: $608
Amount financed $30,720 · total interest $5,778 · total of payments $36,498
Change any number above – the result, chart and table update instantly. Use Copy link to save or share your exact scenario.
Amount financed = (price − trade-in) × (1 + sales tax) + fees − down payment. Payment = A·r ÷ (1 − (1 + r)^−n), r = APR ÷ 12, n = months.
$32,000 car, $4,000 down, 6% sales tax, $800 fees, 7% APR:
| Term | Monthly payment | Total interest | Total cost incl. down payment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36 months | $949 | $3,428 | $38,148 |
| 48 months | $736 | $4,590 | $39,310 |
| 60 months | $608 | $5,778 | $40,498 |
| 72 months | $524 | $6,990 | $41,710 |
| 84 months | $464 | $8,226 | $42,946 |
Stretching from 60 to 84 months lowers the payment by about $145 but adds roughly $2,450 of interest – and longer loans often carry higher APRs too.
A longer term lowers the payment but adds interest and keeps you owing more than the car is worth for longer.
Most states tax the price after the trade-in credit, as this calculator does. A few tax the full price.
Yes. A bank or credit-union quote gives you an APR to compare with dealer financing. The CFPB has a guide.
It depends on your credit score and whether the car is new or used. Get quotes from a bank or credit union first.
A common guide is a car payment under 10–15% of take-home pay, with total car costs under 20%.
Usually yes, without penalty. The loan early payoff calculator shows how much interest you save.
Sources: CFPB – auto loans