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Calculator Definitions
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Amount Owed on Trade-In
The total amount of money you still owe on the current financing for a trade-in vehicle if you're still making payments. To get your exact payoff amount, contact your lender.
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Closing Costs
The fees you usually have to pay at the start of a home equity loan. These can include an application fee, points (a percentage of the amount you borrow), attorney's fees, and additional expenses. Also known as "settlement costs." To get the exact closing costs you might be charged, please contact your lender.
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Interest Rate (APR)
When you purchase a vehicle with a loan, this is the percentage dollar amount that determines the yearly cost of credit. For instance, if you took out an $8,500 loan with an interest rate of 7.9% and a 36-month term, at the end of the loan your total payments would equal $9,575.03. The difference between the initial amount of your loan and what you paid, which in this example is $1,075.03, is the cost of using credit which was established by the interest rate.
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Length of Loan
How long you make payments to a loan, most commonly expressed in months. Also referred to as a "term." A loan with a term of 36 months, for instance, indicates that you will make 36 monthly payments during the life of the loan.
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Monthly Payment
The approximate amount of money you will be required to pay each month on a loan.
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Rebates
Incentives, usually cash based, that a manufacturer gives you toward the purchase of a vehicle. Rebates are typically applied as a down payment that reduces the vehicle price.
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Sales Tax
The percent of state sales taxes that will be applied to the vehicle price. Remember, this could be based on the state and locality where you register the vehicle, not necessarily where you purchase it.
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Trade-In Value
The amount of money your current vehicle is worth toward the purchase of another vehicle. Keep in mind that dealerships will take the difference between the Trade-In Value and the Amount Owed on Trade-In to determine how much money should be applied to the sale.
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Vehicle Price
The dollar amount you pay for the vehicle before sales tax and additional factors, such as rebates, are applied.
Auto vs. Home Equity Loan Calculator
Fill out the information below to see how much you could save by purchasing your next vehicle with a home equity loan or low interest loan.
* = Required
Please make the sum of your Rebates, Vehicle Down Payment and Trade-In Value less than the Vehicle Price.
Please fill out all of the required fields to estimate a monthly loan payment.
Please enter a number greater than 0 in Auto Loan "Length of Loan."
Please enter a number greater than 0 in Home Equity Loan "Length of Loan."
Please enter a number greater than 0 in both "Length of Loan." fields
This tool is an anonymous educational resource that gives you a general look at financial calculations. This calculation assumes that sales tax is applied to the entire vehicle price. Sales tax may vary by state and locality. We recommend you work with dealership representatives and members of the financial institutions you trust to help determine your exact options.