Total Car CostFound the perfect car? We can help estimate monthly auto loan payments with state taxes and fees included. (Hint: It may be higher than expected.)
We also share some guidelines for expenses like fuel and insurance to help avoid surprises. Visit our loan budget estimator if you need a reality check on how much to spend every month.
This auto loan calculator is different from others because it calculates the total cost of the car you're buying, not just the sticker price.
It includes estimates of state taxes and fees based on your zip code. Our calculations factor in downpayment and trade in values as well. We feel this is important because those taxes and fees can add thousands of dollars to your purchase price and therefore your monthly loan payment.
Additionally, many states charge an annual ownership or property tax along with the fees for registration and inspection. This can run up your total car costs significantly. We include this with a few other expenses from your state and average them to give you a rough estimate of monthly expenses in addition to a loan payment.
This calculator is here to help you understand the not-so-obvious expenses that come along with buying a car; it's not just the car you're paying for. We include estimates of the extras to give you visibility into other car buying expenses and therefore a better idea of what your loan payments will be.
Every state has its own taxes and fee structures, different rates and how they apply them. Some states have a sales tax, others don’t. In some states a vehicle trade-in reduces the amount of sales tax. Some states increase registration rates based on vehicle weight or fuel efficiency. It’s quite complex which is why you don’t see other calculators out there including this information. In addition to variances from state to state, a single state may levy fees differently based on the type of automobile and its use.
In order to provide buying expense estimates, we needed to make some assumptions about the type, use and details of a car. As we said, fees vary by state and by vehicle within a particular state. Here are the assumptions we use when necessary to help craft our tax and fee estimates: