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Geaux Drive

Auto loan calculator.

What that car actually costs per month, with tax, fees, and trade-in factored in honestly.

Monthly Payment
$696
60 months @ 7.5%
Loan Amount
$34,750
Sales Tax
$2,450
Total Interest
$7,029
Total Paid Over Loan
$41,779
Working backwards

How much car can you afford?

Start from the payment you can actually live with each month and work back to the sticker price worth shopping for. Tax and fees come out of your budget first, because at the dealership they always do.

Loan Term
Shop for cars around
$23,044
Sticker price, before tax and fees
Max loan at this payment
$22,457
Plus down payment
$3,000
Less fees
-$800
Estimated sales tax
7% of price minus trade-in
-$1,613
Total you'll pay
$27,000
60 payments
Interest cost
$4,543
The math, plainly

A $450 payment over 60 months at 7.5% services a loan of $22,457. Add your down payment, take out fees and 7% tax, and that is the sticker price to look for. Longer terms raise this number but cost you more in interest, which is the tradeoff the monthly payment hides.

Read the math

Every formula on this page is explained in plain English, with the worked examples that produced it.

9 min read

True Cost of Car Ownership: Why That $25,000 Car Actually Costs You $40,000+

The sticker price is the smallest number in the equation. Here's the honest math on what owning a car really costs over five years, insurance, depreciation, maintenance, fuel, and how to make smarter buying decisions.

Common questions

Does this include sales tax?

Yes. Most states tax the vehicle price minus your trade-in. Our calculator does the same. Adjust the sales tax slider to match your state's rate.

What's a good auto loan rate in 2026?

For new vehicles with excellent credit (740+), expect roughly 6–8%. Average credit lands closer to 9–12%. Used vehicles run 1–2% higher than new across the board.

Should I take 72 or 84 month financing?

Longer terms feel cheaper monthly but cost you more in interest and put you underwater faster. Most financial planners recommend keeping auto loans at 60 months or less.

Is it better to put more money down?

Yes, every dollar down reduces both your loan balance AND the interest you pay on it. Aim for at least 10% down on used, 20% on new to avoid being upside-down quickly.

Should I shop by monthly payment or by price?

By price. Dealerships prefer to negotiate the monthly payment because stretching the term makes any price look affordable. Decide the total you're willing to spend first, then check what that costs per month. The affordability tool on this page works backwards from a budget if that's where you're starting, but it shows the interest cost too so the tradeoff stays visible.