Car Loan Payment Calculator
Estimate monthly, bi-weekly, or weekly car payments (CA/US) using price, APR, term, taxes, fees, down payment, and trade-in.
Inputs
Results
| Breakdown | Amount |
|---|---|
| Vehicle price | $0 |
| Sales tax | $0 |
| Fees | $0 |
| Down payment | $0 |
| Trade-in | $0 |
| Loan amount | $0 |
| Total paid (payments) | $0 |
| Total cost | $0 |
Disclaimer: This is an estimate for informational purposes only. Actual payments may vary by lender, taxes, fees, and payment schedule rules.
Visual
Principal vs Interest
| # | Payment | Interest | Principal | Balance |
|---|
How to use
- Enter your vehicle price and optional taxes/fees.
- Add down payment and trade-in (if any) to reduce the financed amount.
- Choose APR and loan term (months).
- Select payment frequency and click Calculate.
- Use the visual split and amortization schedule to compare options.
Car loan payment basics (CA & US)
Your car payment is determined by three core inputs: the financed amount (principal), the interest rate (APR), and the loan term. In many deals, the financed amount can include sales tax and dealer fees, while down payment and trade-in reduce it. This calculator estimates your loan amount first, then applies a standard amortization formula to estimate payments.
The biggest lever is usually APR. A small change in interest rate can shift the total interest by hundreds or thousands over the life of a loan. The second lever is term length. Longer terms generally lower the payment, but increase total interest because you pay interest for more periods. If your goal is the lowest total cost, compare offers using both monthly payment and total paid.
Taxes and fees vary widely by province/state and dealer. Financing taxes and fees means you may pay interest on those costs too. If you can pay some fees upfront, you reduce the financed amount and the interest portion of each payment. The breakdown section helps you see exactly what’s being included in your estimated loan amount.
Payment frequency (monthly, bi-weekly, weekly) is helpful for budgeting. Some lenders offer “accelerated” schedules that can reduce interest by increasing the total amount paid per year. This calculator provides a planning view of different frequencies — confirm the exact schedule rules and due dates with your lender.
The amortization schedule shows how each payment splits into interest and principal. Early payments often include more interest; later payments apply more toward the balance. If you plan to sell or trade in before the loan ends, the schedule helps estimate your remaining balance at different points, which can be useful to avoid negative equity.