Free Car Affordability Calculator
Find the maximum vehicle price you can afford based on your monthly payment budget, down payment, and trade-in.
Estimates only, not financial advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is the maximum vehicle price calculated?
It works backward from your monthly payment budget to find the loan amount that payment supports over your loan term, then adds back your down payment and trade-in (accounting for sales tax) to get the vehicle price.
Does this include sales tax?
Yes — sales tax is calculated on the price minus your trade-in value (the common method in most states) and factored into how much vehicle your budget supports.
Should I set my monthly budget at the maximum I can technically afford?
Not necessarily — a common guideline is keeping total vehicle costs (payment, insurance, fuel, maintenance) under about 15-20% of take-home pay. This calculator only solves the payment math; your full budget is a separate question.
How does loan term affect what I can afford?
A longer term supports a higher vehicle price for the same monthly payment, but you'll pay more total interest and may owe more than the car is worth for longer — see the Auto Loan Calculator for the full payoff picture.
Is this financial advice?
No — this is an estimate for planning purposes only, not financial advice.