What's inside
- You: years you'll keep the car, miles a year, fuel price, and your income for the 20/4/10 check
- Each car: price, sales tax, fees, cash down or trade-in, loan APR and length (or cash), mpg, insurance, maintenance, other yearly costs, and expected resale value
- Results: out-the-door price, payment, interest while you own it, loan still owed when you sell, fuel, running costs, and the true cost per month and per mile, with a chart and the cheapest car named
- Sample file: a new compact SUV, a 3-year-old sedan and a new hybrid over 6 years: the sedan costs $568 a month to own, the hybrid $576, the SUV $686
Checked, not just designed: every formula recalculates with zero errors, and every result was checked against an independent month-by-month loan simulation in 6 scenarios.
Works in Excel and Google Sheets. Not financial advice.
Try the free version first
The free online calculator uses the same model for a quick answer. The spreadsheet adds tracking, history and the full views.