Car Loan Calculator
Overview
Calculate monthly auto loan payments, total interest, and see how down payment and trade-in affect your financing
Key Facts
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Calculator ID | car-loan |
| Category | Finance |
| Vertical | Finance & Economics |
| App route | /verticals/finance/car-loan |
| API endpoint | /api/public/calculate?id=car-loan |
Inputs
| Input ID | Label | Type | Required | Default | Constraints |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
vehiclePrice | Vehicle Price | currency | Yes | 35000 | min 1000, max 500000, step 500 |
downPayment | Down Payment | currency | Yes | 7000 | min 0, max 500000, step 500 |
tradeInValue | Trade-In Value | currency | No | 0 | min 0, max 100000, step 500 |
interestRate | Interest Rate (APR) | percent | Yes | 6.5 | min 0, max 30, step 0.1 |
loanTerm | Loan Term | select | Yes | 60 | - |
salesTax | Sales Tax Rate | percent | No | 7.5 | min 0, max 15, step 0.1 |
fees | Registration & Fees | currency | No | 500 | min 0, max 5000, step 50 |
How to Use
- Enter Vehicle Price — Input the purchase price or MSRP of the vehicle you want to buy
- Add Down Payment & Trade-In — Enter your down payment amount and trade-in value if applicable
- Set Interest Rate & Term — Input your APR and choose loan term (typically 36-60 months)
- Include Taxes & Fees — Add sales tax rate and registration/dealer fees
- Review Results — See your monthly payment, total interest, and full amortization schedule
Result Surfaces
| Output | Display Type | Format |
|---|---|---|
| Computed results | result-card | - |
Related Calculators
FAQ
How much should I put down on a car loan?
Put down at least 20% for new cars and 10% for used cars. This reduces your monthly payment and helps avoid being underwater (owing more than the car is worth).
What is a good interest rate for a car loan?
As of 2024, good rates are 6-7% for new cars with excellent credit, 8-10% for used cars. Rates vary by credit score, loan term, and whether buying new or used.
Should I finance a car for 72 months?
Avoid 72+ month loans if possible. They increase total interest paid and often leave you underwater (car worth less than loan balance). Stick to 60 months or less.
Evidence
src/lib/calculators/registry.ts(metadata)src/lib/calculators/page-registry.ts(page/HowTo metadata)src/lib/calculators/finance/car-loan.ts(calculator config)
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