Estimate true monthly payments and total cost so you can choose the right financing offer before visiting the dealership.
Data-backed car financing
APR, incentives, and depreciation assumptions combine Experian, Edmunds, and Federal Reserve data so monthly payments reflect what lenders quote this week.
Benchmarks refreshed weekly after Experian releases and monthly CPI + Treasury updates.
Compliance & privacy checklist
Inputs stay inside your browser. Quotes remain educational until you complete disclosures with a licensed lender.
Set the right budget, shop for rates, maximize trade-in value, and sync automation with our calculators.
Lock in total price, must-have packages, and insurance/maintenance caps before you shop.
Compare bank, credit union, and dealer offers, then confirm APR versus the advertised base rate.
Document equity, rebates, taxes, and fees so the calculator reflects the true loan amount.
Use the ROI and AI calculators to stress-test cash flow, reminders, and ownership insights.
Scores of 720+ earn top rates, while scores below 600 may face double-digit APRs or require a co-signer.
New cars lose 20-30% in the first year and roughly 60% by year five. Certified pre-owned vehicles hold value better.
Budget for insurance, maintenance, fuel, and registration in addition to loan payments.
We modeled an electric crossover using current Experian and Edmunds benchmarks to show how incentives and extra payments shift the totals.
Numbers source Experian Q4 2024 State of Automotive Finance Market, Federal Reserve G.19, and Edmunds EV price tracker.
Real purchase flows that connect ROI and AI calculators.
Dual-income household replacing a nine-year-old SUV.
Urban professional driving 18k miles per year.
Datasets backing the APR ranges, incentive assumptions, and depreciation curves.
Experian State of Automotive Finance Market
Quarterly report covering credit tiers, APR averages, and term lengths for new and used loans.
Edmunds & Kelley Blue Book transaction data
Tracks incentives, average transaction prices, and depreciation curves for mainstream segments.
Federal Reserve G.19 & H.15 releases
Consumer credit + Treasury yield data to stress-test spreads, teasing out realistic rate floors.
Cadence: Experian quarterly, Edmunds/KBB weekly, Federal Reserve monthly/daily.
Rates depend on credit score, term length, new vs. used vehicles, and down payment size.
Cars lose value quickly, impacting equity and refinance options.
Strategies to secure better auto loan terms and rates.
We use the standard amortization formula: M = P[r(1+r)^n]/[(1+r)^n-1], where P is the loan amount (price + taxes + fees − down payment − trade-in), r is the monthly rate (APR ÷ 12), and n is the number of payments.
Credit score, loan term, new vs. used status, down payment, debt-to-income ratio, and market rates. Scores above 720 typically qualify for the best offers.
Compare banks, credit unions, and dealer financing. Credit unions often offer lower rates, while dealer programs can include 0% APR or cash rebates. Negotiate the car price separately from financing.
Aim for 10-20% to lower payments and limit negative equity. New cars depreciate quickly, so 20% down keeps you ahead of early depreciation.
Choose the shortest term you can afford. Longer terms (6-8 years) shrink payments but raise total interest and increase the risk of owing more than the car is worth. Terms of 3-5 years balance affordability and cost.
Examples are educational only and not binding credit offers.
Export payments to the ROI and AI calculators to compare opportunity cost, fuel savings, and automated reminders.