What car fits my budget?
How much car can I afford? See what a car really costs each month, with insurance, gas and upkeep included.
Choose one to get started
Free, no sign-up. Covers 248 models from 30 brands. Takes about a minute.
Include everything: the loan payment, insurance, gas and upkeep.
A common guideline: keep total car costs under 20% of your take-home pay.
Are you buying new or used?
What kind of car are you looking for?
We'll pick the best one for your budget and show the rest.
Your down payment and credit
Money you'll pay upfront. Leave it blank if none.
What a dealer would pay for your current car. Leave it blank if none.
Insurance costs very different amounts from state to state. Your ZIP code is saved only on your device.
From a pre-approval or loan offer. We'll use it instead of the average for your credit.
Which car are you looking at?
Price out a car you found
We'll read the price, mileage and model for you.
On the listing page, select all the text, copy it and paste it here.
17 letters and numbers, usually near the bottom of the listing.
Check the details
We'll estimate costs like
Before you buy
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Check its safety
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Find one for sale
Enter your ZIP code to search listings and dealers within 50 miles.
Dealers within 50 miles
Dealer list from OpenStreetMap, a free map maintained by volunteers. Some dealers may be missing, so check Google Maps too.
Car budget calculator
Every setting on one screen. Change anything and the results update right away.
Fine-tune the estimates
How we estimate: model prices start from each model's published starting price (TrueCar, November 2026), raised by an estimate for mid-level or top trims. Used prices assume a 3-year-old car. Sales rankings are US sales from January to September 2026, from GoodCarBadCar. Loan rates are averages for each credit level unless you enter your own, and insurance and repair costs are averages for each type of car. With a ZIP code, insurance is adjusted to your state's average (ValuePenguin, July 2026). Your real numbers will vary with trim, location and driving record, so get an insurance quote and a loan pre-approval before you shop. Read how we calculate it.
Guides by price, salary and payment
Start from your number, then open the calculator with it filled in.
Questions people ask
Does the monthly cost include insurance, gas and maintenance?
Yes. The number we show is the loan payment plus typical full-coverage insurance, fuel or charging for the miles you drive, and routine maintenance and repairs for that type of car. Most calculators only show the loan payment, which is usually well under two-thirds of what a car really costs each month.
How much of my income should go to a car?
A common guideline is to keep the loan payment under 10 to 15 percent of your monthly take-home pay, and everything car-related, including insurance and fuel, under about 20 percent. The 20/4/10 rule adds: put 20 percent down and finance for no more than 4 years. Compare the all-in monthly figure from this tool against that 20 percent line.
Is a 72-month car loan a bad idea?
It lowers the payment but raises the total interest and keeps you owing more than the car is worth for longer. If a car only fits your budget at 72 months, that is usually a sign to look at a cheaper or used car. Compare 48, 60 and 72 months in the tool to see the trade-off in dollars.
Where do the prices and interest rates come from?
New prices start from each model's published starting price (TrueCar, November 2026) plus an estimate for a mid-level trim. Used prices assume a 3-year-old car. Interest rates are averages for each credit level on new and used loans, and insurance and maintenance are averages for each type of car. The How we calculate it page has the full table.
Is this tool free, and do you collect my information?
It is free and there is no signup. The calculator runs in your browser and your inputs are saved only on your own device so they are there when you come back. The site has no dealer or lender affiliation.
Should I buy new or used?
A 3-year-old car typically costs about 25 to 35 percent less than new, which lowers the payment, but used-car loans carry higher interest rates and upkeep rises with age. Switch between New and Used in the tool to compare the all-in monthly cost for the same type of car.