U.S. auto loan calculator · Dealer-free math

Know the payment
before the parking-lot pitch.

Start with the actual deal: price, tax, fees, cash down, trade equity, old-loan payoff, APR, and term. Then see the monthly payment and what the loan really costs.

Your deal stays on this page. HandyPebble does not upload, save, or send these numbers to a dealer or lender.

01

Build the deal

Vehicle and cash
Trade-in

No trade-in entered.

Tax and fees

Choose where the vehicle will be registered to load a state-level starting rate. You can still edit it.

Loan

Use the APR and term from a real offer when you have them. A longer term usually lowers the payment but increases total interest.

02

Estimated monthly payment

$647

60 months · $33,050 financed at 6.50% APR

Planning estimate—not a dealer worksheet, lender quote, or tax advice.

One click. Made right in your browser.
Vehicle$35,000
+
Tax + fees$3,050
Cash + trade equity$5,000
=
Amount financed$33,050
Amount financedTotal interest
Amount financed$33,050
Total interest$5,752
Total of loan payments$38,802
Estimated sales tax$2,450
Out-the-door price$38,050
Trade equity$0

State starting rates do not include every county, city, district, vehicle, rebate, or transaction rule. The estimate also excludes car insurance, fuel, maintenance, and optional add-ons unless you enter them in the deal. Confirm the final tax and fees with your DMV and itemized buyer’s order.

03

Watch the loan shrink

The yearly view shows scheduled principal and interest. Your lender may round individual payments a little differently.

YearPrincipalInterestEnding balance
The deal, unpacked

Monthly payment is the last step.

01

Find the amount financed

Add the vehicle, tax, and fees. Subtract cash down and positive trade equity. Add negative trade equity when the old loan payoff is larger than the trade value.

02

Apply APR and time

The loan payment uses the financed amount, monthly interest rate, and number of months. Zero-percent financing simply divides the balance across the term.

03

Compare total cost

A 72- or 84-month loan can look friendly each month while keeping you in debt longer and adding more interest.

Straight answers

U.S. auto loan questions.

How is the amount financed calculated?

Start with the vehicle price, vehicle tax, and entered fees. Subtract the cash down payment and trade-in value, then add any amount still owed on the trade. The result is the estimated new loan principal.

Does choosing a state give me the exact vehicle tax?

No. It loads a state-level starting rate and a trade-in setting. County, city, district, vehicle-type, purchase-type, rebate, cap, and special excise rules can change the actual number. Replace the starting rate with the tax shown by your DMV or itemized dealer worksheet.

Why is there a trade-in tax credit switch?

State rules differ. Some states tax the vehicle price after an eligible trade allowance; others tax the full price or apply different limits. The state selector provides a starting setting, and the switch stays editable for the actual transaction.

What is negative equity?

Negative equity means the old loan payoff is larger than the trade-in value. If that difference is rolled into the new deal, you borrow money for part of the old car as well as the new one.

Does a longer loan always save money?

No. A longer term usually lowers the required monthly payment, but often increases total interest and can keep the loan balance above the car’s value for longer.

Does this include car insurance?

No. Car insurance is an ownership cost, not normally part of the auto loan payment. Budget for insurance, fuel, maintenance, parking, and registration renewals separately.

Will this exactly match a dealer worksheet?

It should provide a useful planning estimate when the inputs match, but it is not a dealer worksheet, lender quote, or tax advice. Final documents may include rebates, add-ons, state-specific rules, lender fees, payment timing, or different rounding.