Car Buying Calculator Pro
Everything you need before buying a car: loan payments, total cost of ownership, new vs used comparison, lease vs buy analysis, affordability check, and dealer negotiation guide.
💰 Auto Loan Calculator
Calculate your exact monthly payment, total interest paid, and see a full amortization schedule.
📈 Rate Comparison
See how different interest rates affect your monthly payment and total cost.
💸 5-Year Total Cost of Ownership
The purchase price is just the beginning. Calculate every cost of owning a car over 5 years.
🚗 New vs Used Comparison
New cars depreciate 20-30% in the first year alone. Compare the true 5-year cost of buying new versus a 3-year-old used car.
✨ Buy New
🔧 Buy Used (3yr old)
📈 New Car Depreciation Curve
Average depreciation: ~20% year 1, ~15% year 2, ~12% year 3, ~10% year 4, ~8% year 5. This is based on industry averages from Edmunds and NADA data.
📄 Lease vs Buy Comparison
Compare the 3-year cost of leasing versus buying. Remember: leasing means lower payments but zero equity at the end.
📋 Lease (36 months)
🔑 Buy (60 month loan)
✅ Can You Afford This Car?
The 20/4/10 Rule: Put at least 20% down, finance for no more than 4 years, and keep total vehicle costs (payment + insurance + gas) under 10% of gross monthly income.
💰 What Can You Actually Afford?
💲 Trade-In Value Estimator
Estimate your current car's trade-in value based on age, mileage, and condition. Values are based on typical depreciation curves.
💡 Trade-In Tips
Get Multiple Offers
Check CarMax, Carvana, and KBB Instant Cash Offer before visiting a dealer. Having competing offers gives you leverage.
Negotiate Separately
Never reveal your trade-in until after negotiating the new car price. Dealers use trade-in value to disguise bad deals on the new car.
Clean It Up
A detailed car can get 5-15% more. Spend $150 on detailing to potentially gain $500-1500 on trade-in value.
Fix the Easy Stuff
Replace burnt-out lights, fix minor dents, and address any check engine lights before trading in. Small fixes = bigger offers.
💪 Negotiate Like a Pro
Know the dealer's real cost and use it to negotiate a fair deal. The sticker price is never the final price.