Car Loan Calculator — Monthly Payment & Total Cost

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Car Loan Calculator

Calculate monthly payments, total interest & cost of financing

Currency

Vehicle Price$25,000
$1k$25k$50k$75k$100k
$
Down Payment$5,000
$0$12.5k$25k$37.5k$50k
$
Trade-in Value$0
$0$7.5k$15k$22.5k$30k
$
Interest Rate (APR)6.5%
0%7.5%15%22.5%30%
%
Loan Term60 months
12mo30mo48mo72mo96mo
months

Results

Monthly Payment
$391.32
per month
Loan Amount
$20,000
Total Interest
$3,479
Total Cost
$28,479
■ PrincipalInterest ■
Interest is 14.8% of total payments
Vehicle Price$25,000
Down Payment$5,000
Trade-in Value$0
Loan Amount$20,000
Monthly Payment$391.32
Total Interest$3,479
Total Cost of Car$28,479

Frequently Asked Questions

How is a car loan monthly payment calculated?

Monthly payment = P x r(1+r)^n / ((1+r)^n – 1), where P is the loan principal, r is the monthly interest rate (APR / 12), and n is the number of payments. A $20,000 loan at 6.5% APR for 60 months gives a monthly payment of about $391.

What is a good interest rate for a car loan?

Borrowers with excellent credit (720+) typically qualify for 3-6% APR. Average credit (660-719) often sees 6-10% APR. Rates above 15% indicate a high-risk borrower profile.

Should I make a larger down payment on a car?

A larger down payment reduces your loan principal, lowering monthly payments and total interest paid. A 20% down payment is commonly recommended to avoid being upside-down on the loan as the car depreciates.

What loan term should I choose for a car loan?

Shorter terms (36-48 months) mean higher monthly payments but less total interest. Longer terms (72-96 months) lower monthly payments but raise total cost. Most advisors recommend 60 months or fewer.