Step 1: Start with vehicle price
Use the negotiated selling price before down payment, trade-in, and financed taxes or fees.
2026 auto loan calculator with trade-in
2026 auto loan calculator with trade-in.
A car payment calculator with trade-in for U.S. buyers: estimate amount financed, monthly payment, and interest after trade-in equity, payoff, down payment, APR, taxes, and fees.
Formula shown
Front-end only
APR default: U.S. average
Updated August 13, 2026
Related calculators and guides
Continue with related trade-in scenarios.
Use these focused pages to compare affordability, longer terms, down payment choices, and trade-in payoff questions. If the payoff is higher than the vehicle value, go directly to the negative equity car loan calculator.
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Trading in a car you still owe money on
Amortization preview
Your first year, month by month.
Preview the first 12 payments or expand the full schedule to see how interest falls as principal is paid down.
First payment
$0
Principal in first payment
$0
Interest in first payment
$0
Payoff
60 months
On small screens, swipe the table sideways to see every column.
| Month | Payment | Principal | Interest | Balance |
|---|
Direct answer
How to calculate a car payment with trade-in.
To calculate an auto loan payment with a trade-in, start with the vehicle price, subtract the down payment and net trade-in equity, add any taxes and fees you plan to finance, then apply the APR and loan term with the fixed-rate amortization formula. Net trade-in equity equals trade-in value minus the remaining loan payoff.
Amount financed = vehicle price - down payment - net trade-in equity + financed taxes and fees. If net trade-in equity is negative, it increases the amount financed. Monthly payment = P x r(1+r)n / ((1+r)n - 1), where P is amount financed, r is monthly interest rate, and n is the number of monthly payments.
Calculation steps
Trade-in payment estimate, step by step.
Step 2: Subtract cash down
Enter the money you plan to pay upfront. A larger down payment lowers the amount financed.
Step 3: Subtract net trade-in equity
Use trade-in value minus any remaining loan payoff on the vehicle being traded. Negative equity is added to the new loan.
Step 4: Add financed taxes and fees
Include these costs only when they will be rolled into the new auto loan.
Step 5: Apply APR and term
The calculator converts APR to a monthly rate and amortizes the balance over the term.
Key definitions
Terms used in the calculator.
- Trade-in value:
- The credit a dealer or buyer gives for your current vehicle.
- Net trade-in equity:
- Trade-in value minus any remaining payoff on the old vehicle loan.
- Negative equity:
- The payoff amount that remains after the trade-in value is applied.
- Amount financed:
- The loan balance used to calculate monthly payments and interest.
- APR:
- The annual percentage rate entered as the yearly borrowing rate for this estimate.
Formula source
Why this formula is reliable.
M = P x r(1+r)n / ((1+r)n - 1)
M is the monthly payment, P is the amount financed, r is the monthly interest rate, and n is the number of payments.
This is the standard payment formula for a fully amortizing, fixed-rate installment loan. It is the same time-value-of-money approach behind common spreadsheet functions such as Microsoft Excel's PMT function: constant payments, constant interest rate, and a zero balance after the final scheduled payment.
For U.S. consumer credit, APR disclosure is governed by Regulation Z. This calculator does not compute a legal APR disclosure; it uses the APR you enter as the annual rate and converts it to a monthly rate for a planning estimate.
Worked example
What the default estimate means.
With a $35,000 vehicle price, $5,000 down payment, $3,000 net trade-in equity, $2,400 financed taxes and fees, and a 60-month loan at 6.98% APR, the amount financed is $29,400.
That produces an estimated payment of about $582 per month and about $5,513 in total interest if all scheduled payments are made. The same deal without trade-in equity finances $32,400 and pays about $641 per month.
| Vehicle price | $35,000 |
|---|---|
| Down payment | -$5,000 |
| Net trade-in equity | -$3,000 |
| Taxes and fees financed | +$2,400 |
| Amount financed | $29,400 |
| Estimated monthly payment | $582 |
| Estimated total interest | $5,513 |
Trade-in comparison
With trade-in vs without trade-in.
Holding price, down payment, taxes, fees, APR, and term constant, a $3,000 positive net trade-in equity cuts about $59 from the monthly payment and about $562 from total interest over 60 months.
| Metric | With $3,000 trade-in | Without trade-in | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amount financed | $29,400 | $32,400 | -$3,000 |
| Monthly payment (60 mo @ 6.98%) | $582 | $641 | -$59 |
| Total interest | $5,513 | $6,075 | -$562 |
| Total paid | $34,913 | $38,475 | -$3,562 |
Use this page as a car payment calculator with trade-in, an auto loan calculator with trade, or a car finance calculator with trade-in: the inputs are the same. If payoff exceeds trade-in value, switch to the negative equity calculator. For the equity math in plain English, read how trade-in value affects payments.
Methodology
Transparent assumptions.
What is included
Vehicle price, down payment, trade-in value, trade-in loan payoff, APR, loan term, and any taxes or fees you choose to finance.
Default APR
The default 6.98% APR is a U.S. national reference rate for a 60-month new-car loan reported by WSJ Buy Side using Bankrate data in June 2026. It is used only as a starting point for the calculator.
Your actual APR can be higher or lower based on credit score, income, lender, vehicle age, down payment, loan term, state, dealer incentives, and the date you apply.
What is not included
Insurance, registration renewal, fuel, maintenance, repairs, depreciation, late fees, lender fees not entered, or dealer add-ons.
How to use the result
Use the estimate to compare scenarios. Verify actual terms with lenders before making a purchase decision.
Why estimates can differ
Lenders may calculate APR, fees, first payment timing, rebates, taxes, and rounding differently. Your contract and Truth in Lending disclosures control the actual cost of credit.
Sources
Reference data used on this page.
Default APR reference
The starting APR is based on a U.S. national average for a 60-month new-car loan reported by WSJ Buy Side using Bankrate rate data in June 2026.
This is not a local rate, personalized quote, lender approval, or legal APR disclosure. Replace it with your own quoted APR whenever you have one.
Formula reference
The payment calculation uses the standard fixed-rate amortization formula, the same constant-payment structure used by spreadsheet PMT functions.
FAQ
Car payment and trade-in questions.
How do I use a car payment calculator with trade-in?
Enter vehicle price, cash down, trade-in value, remaining trade-in payoff if any, APR, term, and financed taxes or fees. The result is amount financed, estimated monthly payment, total interest, and an amortization preview.
How do I calculate a car payment with trade-in?
Start with the vehicle price, subtract your down payment and net trade-in equity, then add any taxes and fees you plan to finance. The calculator applies the APR and loan term to that amount financed.
Does a trade-in always reduce my monthly payment?
Only when it creates positive net equity. Net trade-in equity equals trade-in value minus remaining payoff. In the default example, $3,000 of equity lowers the payment from about $641 to about $582 on a 60-month loan at 6.98% APR.
Is an auto loan calculator with trade the same as a car finance calculator with trade-in?
Yes for planning purposes. Both estimate a financed payment after trade-in equity. AutoLoanLabs uses net trade-in equity, amount financed, APR, and term.
How does a trade-in affect a car loan?
A trade-in credit reduces the amount financed when it is applied to the purchase. If you owe money on the trade-in, subtract the payoff from the trade-in value first. If the result is negative, that negative equity may increase the new loan.
What if I still owe money on my trade-in?
Enter the remaining payoff as trade-in loan payoff here for a quick estimate. If you are specifically searching for a negative equity car loan calculator or an upside-down trade-in, use the dedicated negative equity car loan calculator instead — that page is built around the old-loan shortfall.
Where is the negative equity car loan calculator?
Use https://autoloanlabs.com/auto-loan-calculator-with-negative-equity. This homepage is for positive or break-even trade-in payment planning; the negative equity page estimates rolled-in shortfalls.
Can I use this as a 72 month auto loan calculator?
Yes. Enter 72 as the loan term. A 72-month loan usually lowers the payment compared with 48 or 60 months, but it can increase total interest and keep you in debt longer.
What is a good auto loan APR?
A good APR depends on credit score, loan term, vehicle age, lender, state, and market rates. The default rate here is only a U.S. national reference point, so compare multiple offers before committing.
Where does this calculator's formula come from?
It uses the standard amortization formula for fixed-rate installment loans. The same structure is used by spreadsheet PMT functions and amortization schedules: a loan balance, a periodic interest rate, and a fixed number of payments.
Does this calculator include insurance?
No. This calculator estimates loan payments only. Insurance, fuel, maintenance, registration, and depreciation should be considered separately.
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