What Kind of Car Can You Afford? [Calculator Steps]

Car dealerships have a reputation for making the process of buying a car extremely complicated. You'll see what I mean when trying to figure out how much a car actually costs. Then there's the advertised sticker price of a vehicle at a car dealership. The manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) can then be compared from there. You might be able to work something down to the dealer's bottom line if you negotiate well. Unfortunately, the journey from sticker price to lowest price is sometimes cloaked in secrecy. And if you're not attentive, you can end up paying more for a car than it's really worth - or more than you can afford. Car dealerships may wreak havoc on your money in more ways than one. They not only make discussing pricing a strange and uncomfortable affair, but they're also great at persuading you that their new automobiles are worth ridiculous amounts of money. Keep in mind that the average new auto loan was well over $30,000 in the first quarter of this year. And the average monthly payment for a new car was $499 — for a period of 68 months! These figures are ridiculous when you realize that the median household income in 2017 was only $59,039. If you already know what you want, use our Car Affordability Calculator to figure out how much you should pay and how much you should spend. PLUS, we'll tell you how this will affect your retirement!

Four Steps to a Budget-Friendly Monthly Payment

Whether you like it or not, determining how much you can afford to spend on a car is your responsibility. Whatever you do, don't let your salesman determine how much money you can borrow. Why? Because your credit and salary may qualify you to buy just about anything on the lot, according to their numbers. Lenders and major banks do not determine true "affordability." After all, only you know how much money you have to spend on transportation and other expenses.

So, how do you figure out how much money you have to work with?

Step 1: Determine how much money you make per month. If you don't already have a budget, you might not be aware of how much money you make each month. It is a necessary step before deciding on a vehicle payment. Take out your pay stubs and total up your usual earnings in a typical month. This portion is simple if you receive the same amount of money every few weeks. On the other hand, if your salary fluctuates, you may need to estimate your average income based on several months' worth of pay. Step 2: Take your revenue and subtract your costs. It would be best if you also totaled up all of your monthly expenses after you have a handle on your revenue. What do you usually do with your money? Make a list of all of your fixed expenses (rent, insurance, television, phone, internet, and so on) and estimate your variable expenses (utility bills, gas, food, etc.). Finally, you should set aside some money in your monthly budget for savings. Isn't it true that you should be if you're not saving money every month? Compare your income to your costs once you've totaled your monthly spending and savings targets. Every month, how much money do you have left over? Step 3: Calculate gas and insurance costs. Will the cost of insurance and petrol increase or decrease if you purchase a newer vehicle? If modifications are expected, make sure to include them in the simple budget you generated in steps 1 and 2. Here's an illustration: Let's imagine you make $1,000 every payday, for a total of $4,000 in take-home money per month. When you sum up your spending, you'll see something like this:

$1,200 per month in rent
$600 for food
$80 for cable and internet
$100 for gas
$80 for car insurance
$250 in utility bills
$200 for health insurance
Childcare costs $600.
$400 in savings
$3,510 in total

In this case, you should have roughly $490 left over each month to spend on a car. That is the maximum amount you could spend, but it is not the maximum amount you should spend. Step 4: Use a vehicle payment calculator to figure out how much you'll have to pay for your car. After you've gotten a sense of your monthly income and expenses, play around with a loan calculator like the one below to obtain more insight. Enter the pricing range you want to shop in and the interest rate you're hoping to get. From there, you can figure out what kind of monthly payment you'll have. Let's imagine you're interested in purchasing an older Toyota Corolla hybrid from a nearby dealership. They're asking $21,000, but you're hoping to get it for $20,000 off the lot. You can experiment with different circumstances by playing around with a loan calculator. For example, if you financed $20,000 at 5% APR and paid off your automobile over 60 months, your monthly payment would be $377.42. Maybe you put up $3,000 for a down payment and wanted to pay off your loan in four years rather than five. If you borrowed $17,000 at the same rate for four years, you'd repay $391.50 every month. When buying a new or used car, there are a few things to keep in mind. While the following recommendations can help you figure out how much car you can afford, that amount should not be your final budget. You should try to spend less on a car than you can afford if you want even more flexibility in your monthly costs.

Here are a few pointers that may be useful:

#1: Keep in mind that there will be additional expenses

In addition to the vehicle's purchase price, you'll have to pay for license plates, insurance, and any other state taxes. You'll also have to pay sales tax on your vehicle, though your lender may include it in your loan if you ask. When it comes to license plates and insurance, keep in mind that newer automobiles come with higher costs in these areas. Buying an older automobile (or at least one that isn't brand new) should help you save money on plates and insurance.

#2: Make sure your monthly budget has enough wiggle room

If you used the criteria above to create a monthly budget, you should have a good idea of how much you can afford to spend on a car each month. Don't forget to leave some wiggle space in your budget, though. Life happens, and unexpected bills arise. Roofs and automobiles both require maintenance. It's possible that you'll be hit with unforeseen medical expenditures or lose your job. You'll be better off if you have more "extra cash" in your budget.

#3: Shop around for auto insurance, which is the one expense you can control

While you have no influence over the cost of your new vehicle's license plates, you can browse around for the best auto insurance prices. Depending on whatever agency you buy from, the cost of your auto insurance policy can vary by hundreds of dollars. You can be sure you're getting the best deal by comparing pricing and policies.

#4: Purchase a used item rather than a new one

According to Edmunds, new automobiles lose up to 9% the moment you drive them off the lot, and they continue to depreciate rapidly until they're worth nearly nothing. While this is true for used cars as well, you may at least escape the initial decrease that occurs over the first few years. Keep in mind that auto payments are calculated based on more than the vehicle's purchase price, whether new or used. In addition to the loan's principal, you'll have to pay interest. Older automobiles have lower costs (on average) and higher rates than new cars, which have higher pricing and lower interest rates.

#5: Stick to your spending plan

This last point may seem self-evident, but it's crucial. If you've gone to the trouble of deciding on a spending limit for a car, make sure you stick to it! A cunning car salesperson will go to any length to persuade you to upgrade to a newer model or spend more money. Why? Because their livelihood is at stake! You may assure that you are in charge by setting limitations ahead of time.