Auto Loan Calculator
Car loan payments including sales tax, down payment and trade-in.
Quick answer
- Sales tax is added before financing: a $30,000 car at 8% tax with $5,000 down finances $27,400, not $25,000.
- Example: that loan at 6% over 60 months costs $529.72/mo and $4,383 in total interest.
- Term choice trades payment for interest: on that loan, 36 months costs $834/mo with $2,608 interest, while 72 months drops to $454/mo but rises to $5,295 interest (see the term scenarios result).
- Worked example — Sales tax: $2,400.00 (full example below).
Auto Loan Calculator
| Sales tax | $2,400.00 |
| Amount financed | $27,400 |
| Monthly payment | $529.72 |
| Total interest | $4,383.13 |
| Total cost of the car | $36,783 |
| Term scenarios (same loan, different terms) | 36 months: $834/mo, $2,608 interest · 48 months: $643/mo, $3,488 interest · 60 months: $530/mo, $4,383 interest · 72 months: $454/mo, $5,295 interest |
A $30,000 car with 8% tax and $5,000 down finances $27,400; at 6% over 60 months the payment is $529.72.
Price a car properly: this calculator adds sales tax to the vehicle price, subtracts your down payment and trade-in, then works out the monthly payment and total interest on the amount actually financed.
Dealers often quote payments on the sticker price alone — the tax line is where surprises hide.
The formula
Worked example
A $30,000 car with 8% tax and $5,000 down finances $27,400; at 6% over 60 months the payment is $529.72.
The example is pre-loaded in the result panel — press Calculate with your own numbers to replace it.
Frequently asked questions
Should I take a longer term to lower the payment?
A 72- or 84-month term lowers the monthly payment but you pay much more interest and risk owing more than the car is worth. Compare total interest here before deciding.
Does a trade-in reduce sales tax?
In many US states, yes — tax is charged on price minus trade-in. This calculator taxes the full price; if your state gives a trade-in credit, lower the vehicle price by the trade-in amount and set trade-in to 0 to model it.
Category: Finance calculators
Sources & methodology
This calculator applies the formula shown on this page exactly as written, using the standard definitions for its inputs. Results are computed from the values you enter — no data is stored — and are rounded only for display.
Content last reviewed by CalcHub Editorial.
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