FinanceFormula-based · Runs in your browser

How Much Car Can I Afford Calculator

Estimate an affordable vehicle price from a monthly payment budget, financing terms, down payment, trade-in, taxes, and fees.

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Inputs

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Result

Updates as valid inputs change.

Calculated locally
Affordability depends on your full budget and lender underwriting. This estimate is not lending or financial advice.
Estimated maximum vehicle price
Maximum amount financed
Estimated sales tax
Down payment + trade-in
Total scheduled loan payments

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Calculation steps

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  1. 1

    Formula selected

    The calculator uses the following formula or method.

    loan principal = payment × annuity PV factor; vehicle price solves financed amount = price + tax + fees − down payment − trade-in

  2. 2

    Values entered

    Your values are placed into the calculation.

    Enter values to see what is used in this step.

  3. 3

    Result calculated

    The formula or method produces the following result values.

    Results will appear after a successful calculation.

  4. 4

    Answer formatted

    Displayed values are rounded and formatted using each output’s configured precision.

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What this calculator does

Estimate an affordable vehicle price from a monthly payment budget, financing terms, down payment, trade-in, taxes, and fees.

How it works

The calculator evaluates loan principal = payment × annuity PV factor; vehicle price solves financed amount = price + tax + fees − down payment − trade-in. Inputs are checked before calculation, and invalid values such as zero denominators or out-of-range selections produce a clear error instead of a misleading result.

Input query strings and outputs

Use an input name in this page’s URL as ?name=value, and join additional inputs with &. Portable shared links may instead use the compact ?ac= state parameter.

Input query strings

7
  • ?monthlyPaymentBudget= Maximum monthly payment

    Money · Required · Default: 600

  • ?annualRate= Loan annual rate

    Percentage · Required · Default: 7

  • ?loanMonths= Loan term in months

    Number · Required · Default: 60

  • ?downPayment= Cash down payment

    Money · Required · Default: 5,000

  • ?tradeInValue= Net trade-in credit

    Money · Required · Default: 2,000

  • ?salesTaxRate= Sales tax rate

    Percentage · Required · Default: 6.25

  • ?fees= Title, registration, and other fees

    Money · Required · Default: 800

Outputs

5
  • maximumVehiclePrice Estimated maximum vehicle price

    Currency · Primary output

  • maximumAmountFinanced Maximum amount financed

    Currency

  • estimatedSalesTax Estimated sales tax

    Currency

  • totalUpfrontCredits Down payment + trade-in

    Currency

  • totalLoanPayments Total scheduled loan payments

    Currency

Inputs and results

The inputs are Maximum monthly payment, Loan annual rate, Loan term in months, Cash down payment, Net trade-in credit, Sales tax rate, Title, registration, and other fees. Results include Estimated maximum vehicle price, Maximum amount financed, Estimated sales tax, Down payment + trade-in, Total scheduled loan payments.

Important notes

Affordability depends on your full budget and lender underwriting. This estimate is not lending or financial advice.

Sources
  • No external reference is listed for this calculator. Its formula and variable definitions are shown above.
Limitations
  • Affordability depends on your full budget and lender underwriting. This estimate is not lending or financial advice.
  • Estimates use the rates, timing, and assumptions entered. Fees, taxes, lender rules, and future changes are included only where explicitly shown.