My EZ Auto-Loan Payment & Tax Calculator · 2026-10-09
My EZ Auto-Loan Payment & Tax Calculator
Monthly payment, sales tax and DMV fees for any vehicle. Free, no sign-up.
Start overThe details
Enter a price to see the loan.
California out-the-door, itemized
Enter a price to see the itemized estimate.
Research Request: check the DMV record
Before you buy, we look up the vehicle's California DMV record and tell you:
- DMV fees due on the record, including back fees and penalties;
- whether the registered owner's name matches the name the seller gave you. (The name on record is private, so we tell you only whether it matches.)
$25 for one vehicle, $10 for each additional vehicle within 30 days. Add an NMVTIS National Title Check & Carfax for $25 more per vehicle. Checked by a licensed/bonded person. Free or paid Technician Stars account needed.
Request DMV researchOut-the-door with your rate
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Plain-English help
What is the "out-the-door" price?
Everything you pay to drive the car home: the price, accessories, the dealer documentation and smog fees, sales tax, DMV registration fees and the smog certificate. California requires dealers to show it.
Simple interest or interest charged first?
Most auto loans are simple interest: each month you pay interest on what you still owe, so paying early saves interest. A precomputed ("Rule of 78") loan fixes the interest at the start and earns most of it early, so paying off early saves less. The monthly payment is the same at the same APR. Federal law doesn't allow the Rule of 78 on loans longer than 61 months.
Why doesn't my trade-in lower California sales tax?
In California, sales tax is on the full price of the vehicle you buy; a trade-in doesn't reduce the taxable amount. It does lower how much you borrow.
What are DMV fees?
Registration, title and related fees paid to the DMV when the vehicle changes hands. When the seller reports them we use their figure; when the current registration has more than 70 days left we show a small flat estimate; otherwise we show $65, the lowest typical amount, marked "Low estimate only". If the registration has expired, back fees and penalties will be due and can be much higher.
How is APR different from the interest rate?
APR is the yearly cost of the loan including certain lender fees, so it can be a little higher than the note rate. Use the APR from your loan offer for the closest payment.
Estimates only - not a loan offer or financial advice. Your lender and the DMV have the final numbers. No ads, no ad trackers.