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Free · No signup · Updated 2026 rates

How Much Car Can I Afford?

Instantly calculate your ideal car budget, monthly payment, and approval likelihood.

$

Before taxes

$

Rent, debts, bills — not car

$
$
Credit score700

Prime · suggested 7.0% APR

Interest rate (APR)7%

Auto-set from credit score

Your result
Maximum car price
$42,881
Safe range $22,380 – $29,840
Monthly payment
$825
Total loan cost
$49,500
Total interest
$7,836
DTI ratio
73.0%
incl. new payment
Approval likelihoodLow
44/100 score
See matching loan offers
20/4/10
Budget rule built in
50 states
Tax & fees included
5 sec
Instant results
$0
Always free
Tool

Approval Likelihood

See your odds — High, Medium, or Low — plus tips and lenders matched to your profile.

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$
Credit score660

Near Prime tier

$
$
Approval likelihoodMedium
64/100 score
Tips to improve your odds
  • →Add $1,000–$2,000 to your down payment to lower loan-to-value.
  • →Pay down a credit card before applying to improve your DTI.
  • →Consider a slightly cheaper car to push your odds into the high tier.
Suggested lenders
AutoApproveCheck your rate →myAutoloanCompare offers →Capital One Auto NavigatorPre-qualify →
Tool

Car Payment Calculator

Know the monthly payment, total interest, and total cost for any price and rate.

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$
$
Interest rate (APR)7%
Estimated monthly payment
$596
Amount financed
$30,084
Total interest
$5,658
Total cost
$35,742
Term
60 mo
Tool

Lease vs Buy Calculator

Compare true cost, find the break-even point, and get a clear recommendation.

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$
Residual value58% of MSRP
Money factor0.0025 (~6.0% APR)
Lease / loan term36 months
Buy financing APR7%
RecommendationBuy
Lease / month
$503
Buy / month
$1,081
Lease total cost
$21,094
Buy net cost
$19,865
after resale equity

Buying pulls ahead of leasing after about 88 months of ownership, once you factor in the resale equity you keep.

Tool

Insurance Cost Estimator

Ballpark your monthly premium by age, state, car type, and driving history.

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Driver age35 yrs
Estimated monthly premium
$126
Typical range $104 – $154 / mo in Texas
Per month
$126
Per year
$1,518
Recommended insurers
The ZebraCompare allCompare quotes →ProgressiveDiscountsGet a quote →GeicoClean recordGet a quote →
Tool

Total Cost of Ownership

Fuel, insurance, maintenance, and depreciation — the real 5-year cost.

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$
$
$
Fuel economy28 mpg
Miles driven / year12,000 mi
5-year cost of ownership
$38,587
Annual cost
$7,717
Cost per mile
$0.64
Fuel / year
$1,457
5-yr depreciation
$17,801

Depreciation is usually the biggest hidden cost of ownership — here it's $17,801 over five years, more than fuel and maintenance combined for most cars.

Get pre-qualified

Compare real loan offers

Most checks are a soft pull and won't affect your credit score. Shop your rate before you set foot in a dealership.

Best overallAutoApproveRefinance or new-purchase loans. Soft credit check, rates from 5.49% APR.Check your rate →Fast quotesmyAutoloanUp to 4 real offers in minutes from a lender network. All credit types.Compare offers →Bad credit OKCapital One Auto NavigatorPre-qualify with no impact to your credit score and shop participating dealers.Pre-qualify →Excellent creditLightStreamLow fixed-rate financing for super-prime buyers. No fees, same-day funding.See rates →

Advertiser disclosure: offers above are illustrative affiliate placements. We may earn a commission.

Guides

Buy smarter

All guides →
Budgeting6 min read

The 20/4/10 Rule: How Much Car Can You Really Afford?

The simplest guardrail in car buying: 20% down, finance for no more than 4 years, and keep total auto costs under 10% of gross income.

Read guide →
Credit5 min read

How Your Credit Score Sets Your Car Loan APR

The gap between a 600 and a 760 score can be 7+ points of APR — thousands of dollars over the life of the loan.

Read guide →
Buying7 min read

Lease vs. Buy: Which Actually Costs Less?

Leasing wins on monthly payment and newness; buying wins on long-term cost and flexibility. Here is how to decide.

Read guide →
Approval5 min read

7 Ways to Improve Your Car Loan Approval Odds

Approval is about more than your score. Down payment, DTI, and income stability all move the needle.

Read guide →