Car Affordability Calculator
Find the car price you can afford from a monthly payment budget, working backwards through your rate, term, down payment, trade-in, sales tax, and fees. Calculates in your browser.
Vehicle price you can afford
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Show the math
This works backwards from your payment to a sticker price:
loan = payment × (1 − (1 + r)⁻ⁿ) ÷ r
price = (loan + down + trade-in − fees) ÷ (1 + tax%)
r is the monthly rate (APR ÷ 12) and n is the term in months. Sales tax and fixed fees are funded from your loan and cash, so they reduce the price you can put toward the car itself. All math runs locally in your browser.
What this does
A car affordability calculator finds the car price you can afford from a monthly payment budget, working backwards through your rate, term, down payment, trade-in, sales tax, and fees.
How it works
It solves the loan your monthly payment supports at your rate and term, adds your down payment and trade-in, then removes sales tax and fixed fees to give the sticker price you can target.
How to use it
- Enter your target monthly payment.
- Enter the rate and term.
- Add your down payment and trade-in.
- Read the affordable car price.
Understanding your result
A common guideline keeps total car costs under 15–20% of take-home pay. Remember insurance, fuel, and maintenance on top of the payment.
Example
A $400 payment over 60 months at 7% supports about a $20,000 loan before your down payment.
Sources & methodology
Last updated .
Frequently asked questions
How much car can I afford?
Enter the monthly payment you are comfortable with, plus your rate and term, and the tool solves for the loan you can support, then adds your down payment and trade-in and removes tax and fees to give the sticker price you can target.
How are sales tax and fees handled?
They are funded from your loan and cash, so they reduce the amount left for the car itself. The tool divides out the tax and subtracts fixed fees to find the affordable vehicle price.
What payment should I budget?
A common guideline keeps total car costs under 15–20% of take-home pay. Remember insurance, fuel, and maintenance on top of the payment.
Is my information saved?
No. All math runs locally in your browser.
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