What is a good monthly payment for a car?

Asked by: Ms. Abigayle Stehr  |  Last update: April 26, 2025
Score: 4.1/5 (13 votes)

Key takeaways. Your monthly auto loan payments should not exceed 10 to 15 percent of your pre-tax take-home salary.

What is a healthy monthly car payment?

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.

Is $300 a month good for a car payment?

$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.

Is $500 a month too much for a car?

So essentially yes $500 a month car payments is perfectly normal.

Is $2000 a good down payment on a car?

With good credit it's possible to get full financing., many automobile manufacturers have these offers specially at years end. Possible 0 % financing as well. $2000.00 is a good down payment.

How Much Car Can You Really Afford? (By Salary)

33 related questions found

Is it bad to put 0 down on a car?

No down payment means a bigger car loan, leading to more interest (unless you pay your car loan off early). You might also need to choose a longer term to keep your monthly payments affordable, which means you'll pay more interest over the life of your loan.

How much is a $30000 car loan over 5 years?

A $30,000 auto loan balance with an average interest rate of 5.0% paid over a 5 year term will have a monthly payment of $566. In total, the loan will cost $33,968 with $3,968 in interest.

What car can I afford with a 60k salary?

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.

What is too high of a monthly car payment?

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!

What is the cheapest car to pay monthly?

Most Affordable Cars in SA

For instance, the Suzuki S-Presso offers a monthly instalment of R3,018 over 72 months, making it an attractive option for those on a tight budget. The Renault Kwid 1.0l Expression 5-dr ABS is another contender, with a monthly instalment of R3,353 over 72 months.

How much car can I afford if I make 40k a year?

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.

Is a 72 month car payment bad?

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.

What is a good monthly income for a car?

Financial experts recommend that your monthly payment should be around 10% to 15% of your monthly take-home pay. Additionally, your total monthly car expenses should be no more than 20% of your monthly income, and this includes your car payment, insurance, maintenance and gas.

What is a typical monthly car allowance?

In the US a typical car allowance is somewhere between $500 and $700 per month, but as described in this article you should base the allowance on the expenses related to business driving, rather than a national estimate.

What is considered a high car payment?

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.

Is $1000 a month too much for a car?

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.

How much is a 25k car payment?

Example: A six year fixed-rate loan for a $25,000 new car, with 20% down, requires a $20,000 loan. Based on a simple interest rate of 3.4% and a loan fee of $200, this loan would have 72 monthly payments of $310.54 each and an annual percentage rate (APR) of 3.74%.

Is 60K a year a good salary for a single person?

According to the latest data available from the U.S. Census Bureau, the median income in the United States in 2022 was $74,580. While $60K a year is lower than that, it's still considered a good salary for a single person, as they typically have fewer expenses than someone who's supporting a household.

How much should you put down on a car?

How much should you put down on a car? One rule of thumb for a down payment on a car is at least 20% of the car's price for new cars and 10% for used — and more if you can afford it. These common recommendations have to do with the car's depreciation and how car loans work.

What credit score do you need to get a $30000 car loan?

There is no minimum credit score required to buy a car, but most lenders have minimum requirements for financing. Most borrowers need a FICO score of at least 600 to get a competitive rate on an auto loan.

What are two reasons someone might purposely choose a higher monthly payment?

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.

Who is offering the best auto loan rate?

  • LightStream - Used car purchase loan. 5.0. NerdWallet rating. Est. APR. 7.74-15.69% ...
  • Consumers Credit Union - Used car purchase loan. 5.0. NerdWallet rating. Est. APR. 6.43-18.54% ...
  • Alliant Credit Union – Used car purchase loan. 4.0. NerdWallet rating. Est. APR. ...
  • Carvana - Used car purchase loan. 4.0. NerdWallet rating. Est. APR.