Free Tool
The monthly payment is only part of what a car actually costs — insurance, fuel, and maintenance add $300–600 more every month. This free worksheet helps you calculate the real total before you sign anything.
4-tab worksheet: Loan Comparison · True Monthly Cost · Affordability Check · Instructions
Downloads as .xlsx — open in Excel or upload to Google Sheets via File → Import
The worksheet tracks all five cost components that determine what a car actually costs you each month:
1Monthly loan payment
Calculated from price, down payment, rate, and term — use the calculator below.
2Auto insurance
Required on any financed vehicle. Varies by vehicle, driver, and location — get quotes before you buy.
3Fuel
Miles per month ÷ MPG × gas price. Trucks and large SUVs can cost $200+ more per month than sedans.
4Maintenance
Oil changes, tires, brakes — budget $50–150/month for a new vehicle, more for a used one.
5Registration & taxes
Annual fees divided by 12. Varies by state and vehicle value — typically $30–100/month.
Heads up — manual setup required. Download the worksheet first, then use the free calculatorto get your loan payment — and enter it into Tab 2 by hand. The worksheet doesn't connect to the calculator automatically.
Download the worksheet
Click the button above to download the .xlsx file to your device. Open in Excel, or upload to Google Sheets via File → Import.
Compare loan options on Tab 1
Enter up to 3 vehicles or loan offers. Fill in the vehicle price, down payment, rate, and term — the sheet calculates your monthly payment and total interest automatically for each.
Calculate your true monthly cost on Tab 2
Paste your loan payment from Tab 1 into cell B5, then add your insurance quote, estimated fuel, and maintenance. Your real monthly total calculates automatically.
Check affordability on Tab 3
Enter your gross income. The sheet flags your total against the 15% (conservative) and 20% (standard) thresholds — green if you're under budget, or a prompt to adjust if you're over.
Calculate Your Loan Payment First
Get your monthly payment from the calculator, then paste it into Tab 2 of the worksheet to see your complete monthly cost.
Calculate my car payment →Your interest rate determines a big portion of Tab 2. Get pre-approved before you visit a dealership — compare lenders here.
From 6.49% APR · Best for: Excellent credit (720+)
Rates vary by credit · Best for: Most credit profiles
Rates vary by credit · Best for: Rate shopping, bad credit
For a full walkthrough, read the guide: How to calculate the true cost of owning a car →