What is the 20 5 10 rule for buying a car?

Asked by: Oscar Franecki  |  Last update: October 1, 2025
Score: 4.3/5 (36 votes)

20% down — be able to pay 20% or more of the total purchase price up front. 4-year loan — be able to pay off the balance in 48 months or fewer. 10% of your income — your total monthly auto costs (including insurance, gas, maintenance, and car payments) should be 10% or less of your monthly income.

Is it smart to do a 72 month car loan?

Pros: Lower monthly payments: Many choose to get a 72-month loan because the monthly payments are lower. And, borrowers may be able to get a more expensive used or new car and still stay within their budget.

How much should my car payment be if I make $60,000 a year?

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 the 20 5 10 rule for cars?

To apply this rule of thumb, budget for the following: 20% down payment: Aim to make a 20% down payment on your new car. 4-year repayment term: Choose a repayment term of four years or less on your auto loan. 10% transportation costs: Spend less than 10% of your total monthly income on transportation costs.

What car can I afford with a 120k salary?

You can comfortably afford a car that is roughly half of your salary, maybe even a little more if you have little other debt. So at 120k you can afford a car up to 60–70k. Honestly depends on your other expenses. If you live way below your means on everything else, you may even be able to afford a 100k car.

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

35 related questions found

How much does the average millionaire pay for a car?

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 5 questions you should ask the dealer before you buy a car?

Just the List for the TLDR Crowd:
  • When may I test drive the car, preferably by myself?
  • May I have my mechanic inspect the car?
  • May I see a CURRENT car history report, such as Carfax? ...
  • Has a qualified mechanic inspected the car, and may I see that report?

What's a good down payment on a 30k car?

It's good practice to make a down payment of at least 20% on a new car (10% for used). A larger down payment can also help you nab a better interest rate. But how much a down payment should be for a car isn't black and white. If you can't afford 10% or 20%, the best down payment is the one you can afford.

What is the 30 60 90 rule for cars?

The 30-60-90 rule refers to a preventative maintenance schedule that suggests key servicing at 30,000 miles, 60,000 miles, and 90,000 miles.

Is $300 a month a good car payment?

NerdWallet recommends spending no more than 10% of your take-home pay on your monthly auto loan payment. So if your after-tax pay each month is $3,000, you could afford a $300 car payment. Check if you can really afford the payment by depositing that amount into a savings account for a few months.

How do I pay off my car loan faster?

7 ways to pay off your car loan faster
  1. Refinance with a new lender. ...
  2. Make biweekly payments. ...
  3. Round your payments to the nearest hundred. ...
  4. Opt out of unnecessary add-ons. ...
  5. Make a large additional payment. ...
  6. Pay each month. ...
  7. Take advantage of lender discounts.

How much is a $30,000 car payment for 60 months?

How much would a $30,000 car cost per month? This all depends on the sales tax, the down payment, the interest rate and the length of the loan. But just as a ballpark estimate, assuming $3,000 down, an interest rate of 5.8% and a 60-month loan, the monthly payment would be about $520.

How to pay off a 7 year car loan in 3 years?

If you want to pay off your loan early, here are six ways to make it happen:
  1. Refinance your car loan. ...
  2. Make biweekly payments. ...
  3. Round up your payments. ...
  4. Put extra money toward a lump-sum payment. ...
  5. Continue making your monthly payments. ...
  6. Opt out of any unneeded add-ons.

What is a negative of having a 36 month car loan?

Lenders consider long-term loans riskier and consequently charge higher interest rates for them. You'll also spend more time paying down interest at the start of the loan before reducing the principal, adding to your loan's overall cost.

How much is a $20,000 car payment per month?

Payments would be around $377 per month. According to the results, it will take you 60 months, an interest rate of 5% of $2,645, to fully pay your $20,000 car loan. However, the monthly cost of a $20,000 car loan will depend on your repayment period and the annual percentage rate (APR).

What are the disadvantages of a large down payment on a car?

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.

How much is a $25,000 car payment?

Example 2: A $25,000.00 secured personal loan financed for 60 months at an interest rate of 8.500% would yield an APR* (Annual Percentage Rate) of 8.496% and 59 monthly payments of $512.87 and 1 final payment of $513.24. *These examples are for illustrative purposes only.

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.

What should you say at a dealership?

After that, here are 10 things you can say to get your deal moving quickly and flowing smoothly:
  • "I plan to get my new car this weekend." ...
  • "I'm calling to confirm my test-drive appointment this evening." ...
  • "I have a trade-in, and I'd like to have it appraised as soon as possible."

What does MSRP mean?

Short for “manufacturer's suggested retail price,” it's basically a price recommendation—what companies like Ford or Honda say dealers should charge for their vehicles.

What is the most important rule when car buying?

Put more down up front. The 20/4/10 rule recommends putting at least 20% down on a vehicle. You can always consider a higher down payment — especially if your credit isn't stellar. The more you pay up front, the less you'll need to cover with a loan and the less you're going to pay monthly.

What car would a rich person drive?

Which car brand is driven most by millionaires? Though wealthy consumers are known for buying luxury car brands like Rolls-Royce, Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar, or Porsche, you might also find them driving mainstream brands such as Honda, Toyota, and Ford.

What is a silent millionaire?

The people who have all the money often go by unnoticed, dressing well, but without flash, driving used cars and living in the first house they bought in a modest neighbourhood. The authors called them the quiet millionaires. They often work in, or own, unglamourous businesses that spin off steady streams of cash.

What pay is considered rich?

Based on that figure, an annual income of $500,000 or more would make you rich. The Economic Policy Institute uses a different baseline to determine who constitutes the top 1% and the top 5%. For 2021, you're in the top 1% if you earn $819,324 or more each year. The top 5% of income earners make $335,891 per year.