How Do You Figure Out How Much You Can Afford For A Car?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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There’s no perfect formula for how much you can afford, but our short answer is that your new-car payment should

be no more than 15% of your monthly take-home pay

. If you’re leasing or buying used, it should be no more than 10%.

What car can I afford with my salary?

The rule of thumb among many car-buying experts dictates that your car payment should

total no more than 15% of your monthly net income

, sometimes called your take-home pay (some might stretch this to 20%, but 15% is more conservative and therefore likely to make budgeting even easier).

How much car can I afford on 50k salary?

Dave Ramsey takes a balance sheet approach. Rather than looking at monthly transportation costs, Dave recommends buying

cars that cost no more than 50% of your annual income

. So if you make $50,000 a year, you should not spend more than $25,000 for a car(s).

How much is a car payment on a $30000 car?

So, for example, if you’re looking at a $20,000 car, the payments will be roughly $400 a month. A $30,000 car,

roughly $600 a month

.

How much should I spend on a car if I make 80000?

If you earn $80,000, that’s a used car for around $10,000 or $12,000.

How much would payments be on a $20 000 car?

For instance, using our loan calculator, if you buy a $20,000 vehicle at 5% APR for 60 months the monthly payment would be

$377.42

and you would pay $2,645.48 in interest.

How much is a 40k car payment?

For $40,000 loans, monthly payments averagely range

between $900 and $1,000

, depending on the interest rate and loan term.

How much are payments on a 25000 car?

Your new loan amount would be $25,000, your monthly payment would be

$452

, and you’d pay $2,113 in total interest charges.

Why you should never pay cash for a car?

If you tell them you’re paying cash, they

will automatically calculate a lower profit

and thus will be less likely to negotiate a lower price for you. If they think you’re going to be financing, they figure they’ll make a few hundred dollars in extra profit and therefore be more flexible with the price of the car.

How much should I spend on a car if I make 75000?

If you make $75,000 per year, your total loan payments shouldn’

t exceed $2,250 per month

. The 20/4/10 rule: Put down 20% on a car, finance the car for no more than 4 years, and keep your car payment less than or equal to 10% of your salary.

What car can I afford with 60k salary?

How Much Should I Spend on a Car If I Make $60,000 a Year? You should spend no more than half of your yearly salary on a car, so if you make $60,000 dollars per year, you should buy a

car that costs $30,000 or less

.

Is $1000 a good down payment for a car?

If you’re looking to purchase a used car for around $10,000, then $1,000 is a decent down payment. It’s widely advised to put down

at least 10% of the

vehicle’s value to increase your odds of getting approved for a loan, and to minimize your interest charges.

How much should I pay for a car monthly?

Whether you’re paying cash or financing, the purchase price of your car should be no more than 35% of your annual income. If you’re financing a car, the total monthly amount you spend on transportation – your car payment, gas, car insurance, and maintenance – should be

no more than 10% of your gross monthly income

.

What is the monthly payment on a $30000 loan?

For example, the total interest on a $30,000, 60-month loan at 4% would be $3,150. So, your monthly payment would be

$552.50

($30,000 + $3,150 ÷ 60 = $552.50).

How much is a 20k car loan a month?

If you borrow $20,000 at 5.00% for 5 years, your monthly payment will be

$377.42

. The loan payments won’t change over time.

What is the minimum down payment on a car?

As a general rule, aim for

no less than 20% down

, particularly for new cars — and no less than 10% down for used cars — so that you don’t end up paying too much in interest and financing costs. Benefits of making a down payment can include a lower monthly payment and less interest paid over the life of the loan.

Ahmed Ali
Author
Ahmed Ali
Ahmed Ali is a financial analyst with over 15 years of experience in the finance industry. He has worked for major banks and investment firms, and has a wealth of knowledge on investing, real estate, and tax planning. Ahmed is also an advocate for financial literacy and education.