Is sales tax included in the auto loan?

In most states sales tax is added to the price and can be rolled into the loan. Enter your state sales tax rate and the calculator adds it to the amount financed.

Auto Loan Calculator — Monthly Car Payment & Interest

Auto Loan Calculator

Estimate your monthly car payment, total interest and the realamount financed — including sales tax, your down payment and trade-in — right in your browser.

Vehicle price ($)

Down payment ($)

Trade-in value ($)

Sales tax (%)

Loan term (months)

APR (% / year)

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Monthly payment

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Total of payments

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Total interest

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Amount financed

Amortization schedule (first 12 months)

Month	Payment	Principal	Interest	Balance

Estimates only — your lender's fees, registration costs and exact tax rules may change the final figures.

🔒 100% private — calculated on your device, nothing is uploaded.

How to use this auto loan calculator

Vehicle price — the agreed sticker or out-the-door price of the car before tax.
Down payment — the cash you are paying up front.
Trade-in value — what the dealer is crediting you for your old vehicle.
Sales tax — your state and local sales tax rate as a percentage (leave it at 0 if tax is paid separately).
Loan term — how many months you will repay over. Common car loans run 36, 48, 60 or 72 months.
APR — the annual percentage rate your lender or dealer quotes.

The results update instantly as you type. You will see your estimated monthly payment, the total of all payments over the life of the loan, the total interest you will pay, and the amount actually financed after your down payment and trade-in are applied.

How car loan payments work

An auto loan is a fixed-rate amortizing loan, just like a mortgage. First the calculator works out theamount financed: it takes the vehicle price, adds sales tax, then subtracts your down payment and trade-in. That balance is then spread across every month of your term using your APR. Each monthly payment is the same dollar amount, but its makeup shifts over time. Early on, a larger share of each payment is interest because the balance is high; as you pay the loan down, more of each payment goes to principal. The amortization schedule below the results shows exactly how that split changes for the first twelve months, and you can print or save it for your records.

Tips to lower your car payment

Bigger down payment: putting more cash down reduces the amount financed and the interest you pay.
Shorter term: a 48-month loan costs more per month than a 72-month loan, but far less in total interest.
Better APR: shop your rate with banks and credit unions before financing at the dealer — even one point of APR adds up.
Use your trade-in: applying a trade-in directly cuts the financed balance.

Frequently asked questions

How is my monthly car payment calculated?

It uses the standard amortization formula on the amount financed at your APR over the number of months in your term. The amount financed is the vehicle price plus sales tax, minus your down payment and trade-in.

Does a trade-in lower my loan?

Yes. Your trade-in value and down payment are both subtracted from the financed amount, which lowers both your monthly payment and the total interest you pay.

Is sales tax included in the loan?

In most states sales tax is added to the price and can be rolled into the loan. Enter your state and local sales tax rate and the calculator adds it to the amount financed. Set it to 0 if you are paying tax separately.

Is my data uploaded?

No — everything is calculated in your browser and nothing is sent anywhere.

This tool is for general information only and is not financial advice.