Car Loan Calculator

Understand payments, equity, and depreciation

Monthly
£877.43
This tool does not provide financial advice and may not reflect actual lender terms, fees, taxes, or market conditions, and does not include additional fees from banks or dealers. Use it as a planning aid and verify figures with a lender or dealer. Estimates only.
What this tool does
This calculator models the cost of owning a car over time, combining loan payments, depreciation, and trade-in value. Use it to compare loan terms, understand equity, and see how extra payments change the outcome.
How to use the Loan Setup tab
  • Car Price: Choose a price from the wheel or enter a custom amount.
  • Down Payment: Choose a starting amount or set a custom value.
  • APR: Tap change to set a new rate, then confirm.
  • Loan Term: Pick a term in months or enter a custom term (1-200 months).
  • Dealer Margin: A percentage reduction applied to market value to estimate trade-in.
  • Overpay: Optional extra amount added to the monthly payment.
  • Depreciation rates: Annual percentage drop in value (Year 6+ applies to all later years).
Timeline tab
  • Chart: Choose which metrics to plot (Equity, balances, total cost, interest, and more).
  • Table: Customize columns to focus on the values that matter to you.
  • Markers: See key moments like when equity turns positive (when shown).
Compare scenarios (Timeline tab)
Overlay multiple saved scenarios on one chart to see how different setups diverge over time.
  • Minimum 2 saved scenarios are required; you can compare up to 4.
  • Your current scenario is always included and locked in the list.
  • Example: Compare a low APR/long term against a higher APR/short term to see equity and total cost over time.
  • Stop Comparing returns the chart to your current scenario only.
Set Monthly Payment
  • Use the spanner button in the header at the top to target a payment amount.
  • The tool estimates a whole-month loan term and rounds up to avoid a payment above your target.
  • Results are capped at 120 months.
  • Calculation uses your current car price, down payment, APR, and overpay.
  • This assumes your lender allows term changes; adjusting the term will change total interest.
Loan Terms tab
  • Charts: Compare how equity builds over time across different loan terms.
  • Interest view: See cumulative interest paid by year for each term.
  • Tables: Scan equity and interest side by side to balance payment size vs. long-term cost.
Tips
  • Use the custom option when your value is outside the wheel range.
  • Small APR changes can have large effects on total interest.
  • Overpaying can shorten the loan and reduce total interest.
  • Negative equity means the loan balance is higher than the car's trade-in value.
Add to Home Screen
Adding the app to your home screen gives you fast access, a cleaner full-screen experience, and helps it feel like a native app.
iPhone (Safari)
  • Open this site in Safari.
  • Tap the Share button.
  • Select Add to Home Screen.
Android (Chrome)
  • Open this site in Chrome.
  • Tap the menu (three dots).
  • Select Install app or Add to Home screen.
Feedback
Privacy
This app stores settings in your browser to remember your preferences and optional saved scenarios. Data stays on your device and is not shared with us. You can deny or allow storage when prompted.
Notice
This website and its content are (c) 2026 Car Loan Calculator. Calculations are generated from user inputs and provided for informational purposes only; no warranties are expressed or implied.
Support
If this tool helped you, please consider supporting me. Thanks!