60-Month vs 72-Month Auto Loan
The payment-vs-interest trade-off on a $30,000 car with $3,000 down: a 72-month loan at 6% versus the same loan over 60 months. A pre-filled auto loan calculator scenario.
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Your loan details
Results
Monthly payment
$482
Loan amount
$29,100
Total interest
$5,624
Total payments
$34,724
Total vehicle cost
$37,724
Sales tax
$2,100
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Loan balance over time
Payment breakdown
| Month | Payment | Principal | Interest | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $482 | $337 | $146 | $28,763 |
| 2 | $482 | $338 | $144 | $28,425 |
| 3 | $482 | $340 | $142 | $28,085 |
| 4 | $482 | $342 | $140 | $27,743 |
| 5 | $482 | $344 | $139 | $27,399 |
| 6 | $482 | $345 | $137 | $27,054 |
| 7 | $482 | $347 | $135 | $26,707 |
| 8 | $482 | $349 | $134 | $26,358 |
| 9 | $482 | $350 | $132 | $26,008 |
| 10 | $482 | $352 | $130 | $25,656 |
| 11 | $482 | $354 | $128 | $25,302 |
| 12 | $482 | $356 | $127 | $24,946 |
| 13 | $482 | $358 | $125 | $24,588 |
| 14 | $482 | $359 | $123 | $24,229 |
| 15 | $482 | $361 | $121 | $23,868 |
| 16 | $482 | $363 | $119 | $23,505 |
| 17 | $482 | $365 | $118 | $23,140 |
| 18 | $482 | $367 | $116 | $22,773 |
| 19 | $482 | $368 | $114 | $22,405 |
| 20 | $482 | $370 | $112 | $22,035 |
| 21 | $482 | $372 | $110 | $21,663 |
| 22 | $482 | $374 | $108 | $21,289 |
| 23 | $482 | $376 | $106 | $20,913 |
| 24 | $482 | $378 | $105 | $20,535 |
| 25 | $482 | $380 | $103 | $20,156 |
| 26 | $482 | $381 | $101 | $19,774 |
| 27 | $482 | $383 | $99 | $19,391 |
| 28 | $482 | $385 | $97 | $19,005 |
| 29 | $482 | $387 | $95 | $18,618 |
| 30 | $482 | $389 | $93 | $18,229 |
| 31 | $482 | $391 | $91 | $17,838 |
| 32 | $482 | $393 | $89 | $17,445 |
| 33 | $482 | $395 | $87 | $17,050 |
| 34 | $482 | $397 | $85 | $16,653 |
| 35 | $482 | $399 | $83 | $16,254 |
| 36 | $482 | $401 | $81 | $15,853 |
| 37 | $482 | $403 | $79 | $15,450 |
| 38 | $482 | $405 | $77 | $15,045 |
| 39 | $482 | $407 | $75 | $14,638 |
| 40 | $482 | $409 | $73 | $14,229 |
| 41 | $482 | $411 | $71 | $13,817 |
| 42 | $482 | $413 | $69 | $13,404 |
| 43 | $482 | $415 | $67 | $12,989 |
| 44 | $482 | $417 | $65 | $12,572 |
| 45 | $482 | $419 | $63 | $12,152 |
| 46 | $482 | $422 | $61 | $11,731 |
| 47 | $482 | $424 | $59 | $11,307 |
| 48 | $482 | $426 | $57 | $10,881 |
| 49 | $482 | $428 | $54 | $10,454 |
| 50 | $482 | $430 | $52 | $10,024 |
| 51 | $482 | $432 | $50 | $9,591 |
| 52 | $482 | $434 | $48 | $9,157 |
| 53 | $482 | $436 | $46 | $8,721 |
| 54 | $482 | $439 | $44 | $8,282 |
| 55 | $482 | $441 | $41 | $7,841 |
| 56 | $482 | $443 | $39 | $7,398 |
| 57 | $482 | $445 | $37 | $6,953 |
| 58 | $482 | $448 | $35 | $6,505 |
| 59 | $482 | $450 | $33 | $6,055 |
| 60 | $482 | $452 | $30 | $5,603 |
| 61 | $482 | $454 | $28 | $5,149 |
| 62 | $482 | $457 | $26 | $4,693 |
| 63 | $482 | $459 | $23 | $4,234 |
| 64 | $482 | $461 | $21 | $3,773 |
| 65 | $482 | $463 | $19 | $3,309 |
| 66 | $482 | $466 | $17 | $2,844 |
| 67 | $482 | $468 | $14 | $2,376 |
| 68 | $482 | $470 | $12 | $1,905 |
| 69 | $482 | $473 | $10 | $1,432 |
| 70 | $482 | $475 | $7 | $957 |
| 71 | $482 | $477 | $5 | $480 |
| 72 | $482 | $480 | $2 | $0 |
Features
- Monthly payment estimate
- Sales tax & trade-in included
- Total interest & total vehicle cost
- Month-by-month amortization schedule
- Shareable result card + CSV export
Scenario Benchmark
Key figures for 60-Month vs 72-Month Auto Loan.
Monthly payment
$482
Loan amount
$29,100
Total interest
$5,624
Sales tax
$2,100
Total vehicle cost
$37,724
Frequently asked questions
How the maths works
An auto loan is a fixed-rate amortizing loan: equal monthly payments, with interest front-loaded and principal growing over time. Adding tax and subtracting your trade-in gives the true amount financed.
- 1Sales tax is calculated on the price minus the trade-in value.
- 2Loan amount = price − down payment − trade-in + sales tax.
- 3Monthly payment M = L·r / (1 − (1+r)^−n), where r is the monthly rate and n the term in months.
- 4Each month, interest = balance·r and the rest of the payment reduces the principal.
Figures exclude registration, fees and insurance. Results are illustrative, not a loan offer.
Everything you need to know
What really goes into a car loan?
The financed amount is not just the sticker price — sales tax is usually rolled into the loan, while your down payment and trade-in reduce it.
Because the tax is financed too, you pay interest on it. That is why the total vehicle cost always exceeds the price on the window sticker.
Shorter term or lower payment?
A 60-month loan costs far less interest than 72 months, but a higher monthly payment. Choosing the shortest term you can afford is the fastest way to cut interest.
The calculator shows the trade-off directly: change the term and watch the payment and total interest move in opposite directions.
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