Calculate your monthly payments before you step foot in the dealership! 

Use an auto loan calculator to help you estimate what your monthly car loan payment will be or how much you can afford to spend.

The auto loan payment calculator delivers a monthly payment based on the price, your vehicle trade-in and down payment information you supply; you can change the loan term and interest rate to see how they change your payment and total interest 

For example, perhaps you think you can afford a $20,000 loan on a new car. A 48-month loan for the most creditworthy borrowers would be 4% or less. At that rate, you'd pay about $452 a month and $1,676 in interest over the life of the loan. A subprime rate might be 11%, making the payments about $515 — and you'd pay more than $4,500 in interest.

Many people reduce payments by lengthening the term of the loan. If you change the term to 60 months, payments on that $20,000 loan at 11% fall from $515 to $435. However, you would pay nearly $6,100 in interest, or an additional $1,600, for doing so.

How to use the auto loan payment calculator

Here’s a guide for the information you will need to input into the auto loan payment calculator.

Car price: In this field, put in the price you think you’ll pay for the car. To estimate new car prices, you can start with the vehicle’s sticker price (also called the MSRP). Subtract any savings from dealer negotiations or manufacturer rebates. Then add the cost of options and the “destination fee" charged on new cars.

For used cars, estimating the sale price is a bit trickier. You can start with the seller’s asking price, but you may be able to negotiate it lower. To get an idea of a fair price, use online pricing guides or check local online classified ads for comparable cars.

Interest rate: There are several ways you can determine the interest rate to enter. At the top of the calculator, you can select your credit score on the drop down to see average car loan rates. You can also check online lenders for rates. If you get pre-qualified or preapproved for a loan, simply enter the rate you are offered.

Trade-in and down payment: Enter the total amount of cash you’re putting toward the new car, or the trade-in value of your existing vehicle, if any. You can use online sites for appraisals and pricing help. When using a pricing guide, make sure you check the trade-in value and not the retail cost (the price at which the dealer sells the car). You can also get cash purchase offers from your local CarMax, or online from services such as Vroom or Carvana, as a baseline.

The Number of months: Enter the loan term (the length of time you have to pay off the loan). Car loans are in 12-month increments, with common terms being 24, 36, 48 and 60 months. The longer your term, the more you’ll pay in interest overall.