To figure out the total finance charges
on a car loan, you can use the following equation: (Monthly payment amount * Total number of payments) - Amount borrowed
This should give you an idea of how much you’ll be paying in interest and fees throughout the loan. If you don’t know the monthly payment amount, don’t worry! You can calculate it in Excel or Google Sheets by typing in this formula:
=PMT(interest rate as a decimal/12, number of months in loan term, total loan amount including fees)
When you plug in the values specific to your loan, this equation should give you your monthly payment amount as a negative number. Then, you can use that number to calculate the total finance charge.
While you’re looking for ways to budget your car loan, why not shop for better insurance rates, too? It’s easy when you use the Jerry
app! Just download the app and answer some quick questions to see your policy options in a comprehensive list. When you find a quote you like, Jerry can help you cancel your old policy and sign up.