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Car Loan Calculator with Trade-In and Sales Tax

Add your trade-in and what you still owe on it to see the real amount you would finance.

Last reviewed: November 2, 2026Reviewed by Michael Steve

Calculate Your Car Loan with Trade-In

Results update as you type. Nothing you enter leaves your browser.

The selling price on your buyer’s order.

What the dealer credits you.

Condition

Financing

Leave blank if you own it outright.

Advanced options

Enter your own amounts where you know them. They replace our estimates.

Replaces the state estimate.

Replaces the state estimate.

Plates, inspections, add-ons.

Estimate only

Estimated monthly payment

$0.00

Choose your state and enter a vehicle price to see your estimate.

Vehicle price
$0.00
Trade-in
—
Taxable amount
$0.00
Sales tax (0%)
$0.00
Title fee
$0.00
Registration fee
$0.00
Dealer / documentation fee
—
Estimated total
$0.00

Financing estimate

Amount financed
$0.00
Estimated monthly payment
$0.00
Total interest
$0.00
Total of payments
$0.00
How this estimate was calculated

    Estimates are for informational purposes only. Actual taxes and fees may vary based on your location, vehicle, transaction and current state rules.

    Trade-in value versus what you owe

    The dealer credits you for the trade-in's value. If you still owe money on it, the dealer pays that balance off, and that payoff is added to your new deal.

    • Positive equity: the trade-in is worth more than the payoff. The difference lowers what you finance.
    • Negative equity: you owe more than the trade-in is worth. The shortfall is added to the new loan.

    Example: a $12,000 trade-in with an $8,000 payoff leaves $4,000 of equity toward the new car. A $12,000 trade-in with a $14,000 payoff leaves a $2,000 shortfall on top of the new loan.

    How the trade-in affects sales tax

    In most states we cover, the tax is charged on the price minus the trade-in value, so a bigger trade-in means less tax. In California the tax is charged on the full price, so the trade-in lowers what you pay but not the tax. The payoff never changes the tax; only the trade-in value does.

    The state-by-state rules are in our guide on how a trade-in affects sales tax.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Does what I owe on my trade-in change the sales tax?

    No. Only the trade-in's value can lower the taxable amount, and only in states that allow the credit. The payoff balance affects how much you finance.

    What if I owe more than my car is worth?

    That is negative equity. Many dealers can roll it into the new loan, which raises the amount financed and the interest you pay. Enter the payoff to see the effect.

    Is an older, paid-off trade-in still worth using?

    Yes. With no payoff, its full value becomes equity toward the new car, and in most states we cover it also lowers the taxable price.

    Should I pay off negative equity in cash instead of rolling it in?

    If you can, yes. Paying it off separately keeps it out of the new loan, so you finance less and pay less interest overall.

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