Car Affordability Calculator
About Car Affordability Calculator
Car dealers love to talk monthly payment — and that is exactly where they get you. A $500 monthly payment sounds reasonable until you realize it is stretched over 72 months at 7% interest, meaning you end up paying thousands more than the sticker price. This calculator flips the script: you tell it your comfortable monthly payment, and it tells you the maximum car price that fits that budget.
The golden rule of car buying is the 20/4/10 rule: put at least 20% down, finance for no more than 4 years, and keep total transportation costs under 10% of your gross income. Straying too far from these guidelines is how people end up upside-down on their loans. This tool helps you shop with a number, not a feeling — which is the only way to win at the dealership.