Calculators

From Debt Analysis to Investments

Car Cost Comparison

When buying a car most people fail to consider ALL of the expenses that will be generated by their purchase. And because nearly all car buying scenarios come with different variables (depreciation rates, interest rates, purchase prices, insurance costs, mpg ratings, etc.), it becomes extremely difficult to compare one buying scenario with another...until now that is. This calculator will not only help you to forecast the REAL COST of buying and owning a car, but it will also help you to more accurately compare the real cost of one car-buying scenario with the real cost of a second car-buying scenario.

Instructions: To calculate the cost of buying and owning one particular vehicle, click on the "Single Scenario Calculation" radio button, fill in the left-hand column with the vehicle data and then click the "Compute Purchase & Ownership Costs" button. To compare buying and owning one vehicle with another, click on the "Double Scenario Calculation" radio button, fill in the both columns with each vehicle's data and then click the "Compute Purchase & Ownership Costs" button. If both vehicles have similar data, you can fill in the first column with the "Single Scenario Calculation" radio button selected, and then click on the "Copy Scenario #1 Entries to Scenario #2" button to fill in the right-hand column (be sure to switch to the "Double Scenario Calculation"). Then just change any cells that are different before computing.

NOTE: Be sure to enter "0" (zero) in any entry boxes that don't apply to you. Also be sure that only numbers and decimal points are entered into the fields (dollar signs and other non-numeric characters will cause a JavaScript error).

TAX
Tax Estimator

BORROWING
Loan Amortization
Loan Comparison
Missing Loan Term
Debt Consolidation

INVESTMENT
Portfolio Mix
Compounding Interval
Single Future Value
Periodic Future Value
Savings Time
Savings Goal
Lump Sum Savings
Retirement Savings
IRA Distributions
College Funding

MORTGAGE
Mortgage Qualification
Bi-Weekly Mortgage
Mortgage Refinancing
Payoff Goal
Rent vs. Buy

BUDGETING
Net Worth
Cash Flow
Expense Percentage
Wage Conversion
Irregular Payments
Credit Card Payment
Debt Investment
Average Interest Rate
Real Hourly Wage
Lifetime Earnings
Generic Savings
Car Cost Comparison
Transportation Savings

Single Scenario Calculation Double Scenario Calculation
Description	Car Buying Scenario #1	Car Buying Scenario #2
Enter the total price of the car, including options:
Enter the applicable sales-tax percentage:
Enter the annual cost of licensing this vehicle:
Enter the cost of the extended warranty, if applicable:
Will you be financing this vehicle? ("y" or "n"):
Enter the amount of your down-payment:
Enter the financing rate (Annual Percentage Rate):
Enter the number of months financed:
Enter annual insurance premium:
Enter the number of miles you expect to drive this car per year:
Enter the vehicle's estimated Miles Per Gallon rating:
Enter the local cost of one gallon of gasoline:
How many years old is the car?:
How many years do you expect to own this car?:
Enter an estimated monthly maintenance and repair cost:

Tax, License, and Extended Warranty Costs:
Depreciation Costs:
Finance Costs:
Insurance Costs:
Fuel Costs:
Maintenance & Repair Costs:
Total cost of buying and owning the car:
Annual cost to own and operate this vehicle:
Cost per mile:
Summary: