Skip to content
Sorted Finance

Calculator

Sort Auto & Personal Loan Costs

Plug in amount, rate, and term to sort what an auto or personal loan costs each month and over the full schedule. Not for cards, balloons, or adjustable rates.

For anyone sorting a fixed-rate auto or personal loan before signing—monthly hit, interest total, and how term length changes the full cost.

Loan details

$

Annual rate

%

Results

Monthly payment

$500.95

Total interest

$5,057.00

Total repayment

$30,057.00

Sorted Finance is an education site. Our tools and writing help you organize questions—they do not replace advice from a licensed professional.

Modeling notes: methodology.

How to use this calculator

  1. Enter the dollars that will actually be financed, including fees only when they are rolled into the note.
  2. Use the rate or APR from the offer in hand, not a marketing floor you have not been given.
  3. Match the term to how the lender quotes it (36, 48, 60 months, and so on).
  4. Hold principal steady and swap rate or term when you compare two dealers or banks side by side.

What this estimate includes

  • Level monthly payment on a fully amortizing fixed-rate loan
  • Sum of payments across the full term
  • Rough total interest (payments minus principal)

What it leaves out

  • Cash-paid origination fees (unless you fold them into principal)
  • Dealer products, extended warranties, and gap coverage
  • Variable APRs, balloons, and interest-only stretches
  • Early-payoff penalties (uncommon—still read the contract)

How this calculation works

Level payments clear the balance by the final month at a fixed rate. Total repayment is payment × months. Estimated interest is that sum minus the original principal—so you can sort cash-flow cost and lifetime cost side by side.

Balloons, interest-only stretches, and adjustable rates are out of scope. If a lender finances an origination fee, add it to principal for a closer payment. Cash fees at signing sit outside the schedule.

Match the APR on the disclosure with the payment this sorter shows. For revolving credit, use the credit card payoff calculator. For auto loan concepts, see how auto loans work.

Formula

M = P × [r(1 + r)^n] / [(1 + r)^n − 1]

Same amortizing formula as a fixed-rate installment loan. Fees count only if you add them to the loan amount.

Worked example

An $18,500 loan at 8.2% for 48 months has payments of about $453. Total repayment is about $21,762, so estimated interest is about $3,262. Shortening to 36 months raises the payment near $581 and trims interest—useful when sorting a credit-union offer against a dealer quote.

If a $650 fee is financed, re-run with $19,150 as the loan amount. The payment edges up because you are paying interest on the fee as well as the cash you needed.

Quick comparison

Round-number scenarios for orientation only—not quotes or approvals.

LoanRateTermApprox. paymentApprox. interest
$18,5008.2%48 mo~$453~$3,262
$18,5008.2%36 mo~$581~$2,432
$18,50010.5%48 mo~$474~$4,236

Practical tips

Long terms shrink the month, grow the cost

Pushing a car note to 72 or 84 months can look affordable while stacking interest and raising the odds you owe more than the vehicle is worth. Sort total interest alongside the payment.

Rolled-in fees quietly raise principal

A $650 fee financed on top of an $18,500 note means interest on $19,150. Enter the financed total when you want the payment you will actually see.

Zero-percent still needs a fine-print pass

At true 0%, payment is principal ÷ months. Confirm your credit tier qualifies and what rate kicks in if a payment is late.

Bottom line

Sort for a payment you can keep and a lifetime cost you understand. Verify fees, whether they are financed, and the final APR on the disclosure before you commit.

Frequently asked questions

Which loans fit this calculator?

Fixed-rate installment loans that amortize monthly—typical auto and personal loans. It is not built for credit cards, HELOCs, interest-only notes, or adjustable rates.

Do origination fees show up in the payment?

Only when you add them to the financed amount. Fees paid in cash at signing stay outside the monthly schedule.

How does a true 0% rate behave here?

Payment is principal divided by months, and estimated interest is $0—assuming the 0% offer really lasts the full term for your credit tier.

Should I sort by payment or by APR?

Both. Payment answers the monthly cash question; APR and total interest answer the full cost question. A longer term can hide a heavier lifetime cost behind a smaller payment.

Can I model paying the loan off early?

The default path assumes every scheduled payment. Early payoff usually reduces interest if there is no prepayment penalty—check your contract.

Related calculators

Related guides