Turn a selling price, fees, trade-in, rebate and loan terms into one clean picture. DriveWise separates the purchase total from cash down and amount financed, so a low monthly payment cannot hide an expensive deal.
Purchase total, trade equity, cash down and amount financed stay separate. That matters because a down payment changes financing—not the price the dealer charged.
Put two quotes side by side and compare out-the-door totals, monthly payments, interest and total paid instead of choosing only by the smallest monthly number.
Trade-in and rebate tax treatment can vary. The switches are explicit, every fee is editable, and the result is labeled as an estimate rather than an official state calculation.
Start with the buyer’s order or a written dealer quote. Replace the example numbers with the exact line items you were given.
Calculate the purchase total first. Then apply the trade, payoff and cash down to estimate what would be financed.
See the payment, total interest and payoff timeline. Add an optional extra monthly amount to model faster payoff.
| Term | Payment | Total interest |
|---|---|---|
| 48 months | ||
| 60 months | ||
| 72 months | ||
| 84 months |
Start with the monthly payment you are comfortable carrying and work backward to an estimated vehicle price.
Compare total cost, not only the monthly payment. Enter the out-the-door total from each written quote.
A shopper negotiates a $1,800 dealer discount, receives a $750 post-tax rebate, has $2,400 in positive trade equity and puts $2,500 down. Tax and fees still push the transaction above the advertised number.
| Negotiated price | $32,995 |
|---|---|
| Dealer discount | −$1,800 |
| Estimated tax | $1,543 |
| Government + doc fees | $600 |
| Rebate | −$750 |
| Estimated purchase total | $32,588 |
Illustrative numbers only. Your taxable base and local charges may differ.
The goal is not to predict every local fee from memory. It is to make the dealer’s written numbers easy to test.
Ask for the selling price, discount, tax, government fees, dealer fee and every add-on. A monthly payment alone does not reveal the purchase price.
Record the new vehicle’s purchase total first. Then compare the trade allowance with the loan payoff so positive or negative equity cannot disappear inside the deal.
A 72-month quote can look cheaper each month than a 60-month quote while costing more overall. Compare the same amount financed, APR and term before choosing.
Review service contracts, protection packages, GAP coverage and accessories line by line. Optional products should be understood and intentionally accepted.
Find the sale price, tax, fees, add-ons, trade allowance and payoff without losing the thread.
Read guide →See why term length changes the risk and total interest even when the car is identical.
Read guide →Normalize the fees, trade, APR and term before choosing the “better” offer.
Read guide →No. The purchase total is the price of the transaction after discounts, incentives, taxes and fees. A down payment changes how much cash you bring and how much you finance; it does not reduce what the dealer charged for the vehicle.
Vehicle tax and registration treatment can vary by state, county, city, buyer location, vehicle type and trade-in structure. The calculator keeps those fields editable and directs shoppers to official state services rather than presenting a planning preset as legal fact.
Yes. Keep the same amount financed and term, then enter each APR in the Loan Lab. Compare monthly payment and total interest, and confirm whether either offer depends on a rebate or optional product.
No. Those are ownership costs rather than purchase-line items. Add insurance, fuel or charging, maintenance, parking and registration renewals when deciding whether the vehicle fits your monthly budget.