Income, Cash & Ownership
Take-home pay per month
Total cash toward the car
Mortgage + other loan, 0 if none
0-36, 0 for 0% APR
0 if unknown
🚗 Monthly Ownership Costs
Estimate from monthly mileage
Amortized monthly
Annual premium ÷ 12
Home + work + travel
Result
💡 Three Budget Tiers (Conservative / Balanced / Aggressive)
| Tier | Max Price | Down | Loan Pmt | Total Burden | DTI % |
|---|
📊 Visual Analysis
Monthly Spending Breakdown
Max Price by Tier
Related Tools & Guides
❓ FAQ
What % of income should go to a car?
Rule of thumb: all-in monthly burden (loan + ownership) should stay under 20-30% of take-home pay. Above 40% starts to crowd out other life goals.
Why subtract one-time fees from available cash?
Tax, registration, and service fees are due at delivery and cannot serve as down payment. Subtracting them avoids overestimating the affordable loan.
How accurate is the ownership cost estimate?
The tool uses four common buckets (fuel, maintenance, insurance, parking). Tune each to your own city, commute, and vehicle type for best results.