So essentially yes $500 a month car payments is perfectly normal.
$300 per month is not enough to own any car. The purchase itself would require months of savings, then insurance, fuel, tires, windshield wipers, brakes and maintenance would ultimately cost more than your income. Buy a bicycle or possibly a moped.
Those with credit scores of 601 to 660 (in the nonprime or fair ranges) and 501 to 600 (in the subprime or poor and fair ranges) saw the highest average monthly payments for new vehicles, at $767 and $750, respectively.
A person making $60,000 per year can afford about a $40,000 car based on calculating 15% of their monthly take-home pay and a 20% down payment on the car of $7,900. However, every person's finances are different and you might find that a car payment of approximately $600 per month is not affordable for you.
Financial experts recommend spending no more than 10% of your monthly take-home pay on your car payment and no more than 15% to 20% on total car costs such as gas, insurance and maintenance as well as the payment. If that leaves you feeling you can afford only a beat-up jalopy, don't despair.
An example of the difference a loan's term can make: If you take out a $40,000 new car loan with an 84-month term at 9% APR, you would pay about $623 monthly and $12,369 in total interest over seven years.
Here are some important points to consider when getting into car payments. So, When Is a Car Payment Too High? According to experts, a car payment is too high if the car payment is more than 30% of your total income. Remember, the car payment isn't your only car expense!
Because of the high interest rates and risk of going upside down, most experts agree that a 72-month loan isn't an ideal choice. Experts recommend that borrowers take out a shorter loan. And for an optimal interest rate, a loan term fewer than 60 months is a better way to go.
It depends on how much income you have after your bills and expenses. But as a rule of thumb, your car payment should not exceed 15% of your post-tax monthly pay. For example, if after taxes, you make the U.S. median income of $37,773, you could shop for a car that costs up to $472 per month.
How much should you put down on a car? A down payment between 10 to 20 percent of the vehicle price is the general recommendation.
It is recommended that you spend 30% of your monthly income on rent at maximum, and to consider all the factors involved in your budget, including additional rental costs like renters insurance or your initial security deposit.
For large luxury models, $1,000-plus payments are the norm. Even a handful of buyers with subcompact cars have four-figure payments, likely due to having shorter loan terms, poor credit, and still owing money on previous car loans, according to Edmunds analysts.
To get an idea of how much car you can afford, a good rule of thumb is to pay no more than 35% of your annual pre-tax income. So, if you make $50,000 before taxes per year, your car purchase price should not exceed $17,500.
Those will become part of your budget. The 50-30-20 rule recommends putting 50% of your money toward needs, 30% toward wants, and 20% toward savings. The savings category also includes money you will need to realize your future goals.
If your gross salary is $60,000, your take-home monthly pay is probably around $3750, assuming about 25 percent of your pay goes toward taxes and other expenses. Based on a calculation of spending 10–15 percent of your monthly pay on a car loan, you should spend no more than $562.50 on your monthly car payment.
Also, I mention the median price paid for the most recent motor vehicle purchased by a millionaire was $31,367 [for decamillionaires-$41, 997]. It is understandable why so many people relate wealth with the price tag of a motor vehicle.
What Are the Disadvantages of a Large Down Payment? Providing more money down doesn't guarantee a lower interest rate, and it can cut into your savings. Depending on the vehicle you choose to buy, 50% can be a lot of money to put down on an auto loan.
“Super-long loans are not a great idea, even if it seems a lot of people are doing it. Unless you can come up with a really large down payment, you will owe more than the car is worth for many years to come.”
An increase in your monthly payment will reduce the amount of interest charges you will pay over the repayment period and may even shorten the number of months it will take to pay off the loan.
Your monthly auto loan payments should not exceed 10 to 15 percent of your pre-tax take-home salary. Due to increased vehicle incentives, drivers may find relief when shopping for a vehicle this year. To secure the best deal, work to improve your credit score and consider making a sizeable down payment.
Over time, owning a car can be more cost-effective—but you'll also have to pay for repairs and upkeep. A lease may come with lower monthly payments than an auto loan, but you'll only be able to keep your car for a few years—and you'll typically also face mileage restrictions.