Earnhardt Auto Centers

What is an Auto Loan Calculator

 

An auto loan calculator is a valuable tool that shoppers are using every day to determine how much car they can afford.   There are no strings attached. This is just a tool to give you valuable information that can help shape your thinking about your car loan amount and monthly payments.

By using an auto loan interest rate calculator, you are getting a clearer picture of how your credit history affects your borrowing ability. You are also getting a good prediction about vehicle loans and how much you can expect to borrow.  It’s also a fun tool that lets you dream about what you might do with your next car, truck or SUV.  

Remember you may be reducing the total amount of your loan with a down payment. An auto loan calculator with down payment feature is one way to take that into account Another way is to simply subtract the amount of your down payment from the loan amount.  This will help you get a clear picture of the final amount you may pay per month.

 


 

HOW DO YOU CALCULATE INTEREST ON A CAR LOAN?

 

This is a complex process.  That’s why auto loan payment calculators are so popular.  Lenders use an amortization schedule to determine how much of your monthly payment goes toward interest and how much goes toward the actual loan amount.  In a normal loan, the amount of interest you pay reduces over time with more and more of your money going to reduce the actual loan amount.  An Auto Loan Calculator can take all of this into account. It can show a user how interest rates will affect their payments. It also shows how the length of the loan affects how much interest they pay.

When we put a $20,000 loan into the auto loan calculator, we are just getting started.  Now we need to decide how much the down payment will be.  Although it is low, we pick a $1,200 down payment. Now the loan amount is $18,800.  If a person takes out a 4-year (48 months) loan and their interest rate is 11.33 percent, they can expect to pay $4,667.88 in interest.  That same loan results in $5,911.50 in interest if held over five years.  However, the four-year loan requires $488.91 per month.  The five-year loan requires $411.86.  In terms of the monthly budget, the lower amount may be the way to go.  On the other hand, if you can afford the higher amount, you can pay the loan off sooner and save on interest.  

Why not try using the calculator to see what you can learn?  If you have questions, use our online chat or give us a call. Our staff is happy to help.

 


AUTO LOAN CALCULATOR, WHAT CAN I AFFORD?

 

Your credit score is the first clue to how much you can afford. That’s why a credit score auto loan calculator can help you. Your auto loan credit score will affect how much you can borrow and what your interest rates are.  This may be affected by your income and the amount of your down payment, but the credit score is the first and most important factor.

If you use the calculator, you can determine what monthly payments would be on the type of car you want. You can play with the calculator, thinking and dreaming about which trim level is right for you based on the final cost.  Remember an auto loan calculator with tax is a good idea because taxes always add to the final cost of your car purchase.

 


 

HOW DO I CALCULATE THE MAXIMUM CAR LOAN I CAN GET?

 

An auto loan payment calculator can help you get a grasp on how rates may affect your ability to borrow money for a new or used car. That’s because it can take into account your credit score, a major factor in auto loans today.  

Beyond using a tool like this, you may need to get pre-approved for a car loan.  To do that wisely,  you want to get approval that won’t affect your credit score. Our pre approval process is a soft pull, and we can avoid affecting your credit score.  That way your loan process with us will allow you to take advantage of your best score and not one watered down by credit score requests.

 


 

HOW MUCH DO I NEED TO MAKE TO GET APPROVED FOR A CAR LOAN?

 

Your income level is definitely important.  It will affect how the credit gurus calculate the ratio of your debts to your income.  Furthermore, it will demonstrate how much you might be able to pay on a monthly basis. Furthermore, it can definitely help with a down payment. 

However, there is no hard and fast rule about how much income you must have to get a car loan.  That’s why an auto loan rate calculator is so helpful. If you use an auto loan calculator with trade in feature, you can determine how much your old car will help you toward purchasing a new car.

 


 

HOW MANY CAR LOANS CAN YOU HAVE?

 

There are many people with more than one car loan. That said, any loan you already have will affect your ability to get the next loan. This is due to how debt plays into your credit score. Nonetheless, there is no reason you couldn’t get multiple loans if you need multiple cars. You won’t be able to get more than one loan for a single car purchase.

 


 

WHAT IS THE AVERAGE CAR INTEREST RATE?

 

This is a question we hear often.  The average car interest rate is hard to determine because the rate is individualized. It is truly person by person based on their credit history. That’s why an auto loan calculator with tax is so helpful. According to Investopedia, there are some trends that can be identified.

Those with scores from 771 to 850 are likely to get a car loan interest rate under 3 percent.  With scores from 700 to 770, the rate may be under four percent.  As credit scores drop, the interest rates start to climb. This is due to lenders who are concerned about the risk.  From 601 to 660, considered a fair score, can get an interest rate under 7 percent in many cases.

The interest rates for a score from 500 to 600 is likely to climb beyond 11 percent.  Dropping under 500, the corresponding interest rate goes up to at least 14 percent if not more.