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Global Araç

Car Affordability Calculator

Karşılayabileceğiniz maksimum araç fiyatı

$51,658

Kullanılan: %15 ödeme kuralı

Maksimum aylık ödeme

$975

Maksimum kredi tutarı

$48,658

Sahiplik (sigorta/yakıt/bakım)

$236/ay

Kuralların karşılaştırması

  • %20 kuralı — ödeme + sigorta + yakıt + bakım brüt gelirin %20'sinin altında kalmalıdır.
  • %15 kuralı — yalnızca kredi ödemesi brüt gelirin %15'inin altında kalır (en yaygın).
  • %10 kuralı — ödeme brüt gelirin %10'unun altında (Dave Ramsey / en muhafazakâr).
  • DTI kuralı — tüm borçlar (araç + mevcut) brüt gelirin %36'sının altında (kredi veren eşiği).

Figure out the most car you should responsibly buy based on your income and existing debts. Tool offers four affordability rules: 20/4/10 rule (20% down, 4-year max term, total car costs under 10% of monthly gross), 10% rule(monthly car payment + insurance + fuel ≤ 10% of gross), 15% rule(a softer ceiling for higher earners), and DTI-based rule (keeps your total debt-to-income ratio under 36%). Output: max car price, max monthly payment, max loan amount given typical down payment.

Why most Americans are car-poor: the average new-car payment hit $740/month in 2024, and the average vehicle price crossed $48,000. At a $60K/year salary, that “average” car violates the 10% rule by 50%. Long loan terms (84-month financing now common) make the monthly payment look manageable but extend you underwater (owing more than the car is worth) for 4-5 years. The financial cost compounds: a $500/month car payment invested at 8% returns instead would be $275,000 over 20 working years.

The right choice depends on lifestyle priorities: if you commute 50 miles/day and need reliability, a moderately-priced reliable car (Honda Civic, Toyota Camry, Mazda 3) at 25-30K bought used at 3-4 years old is usually optimal. If you work from home and rarely drive, an older inexpensive used car ($8-15K) might suffice. Avoid: long loan terms (over 60 months), zero-down financing, leasing if you stay in cars 5+ years, financing a luxury car on a sub-$80K income. The most underrated affordability strategy: buy a 3-year-old used car with cash and skip car payments entirely.

Nasıl Kullanılır

  1. Enter your gross monthly income.
  2. Enter existing monthly debt obligations (mortgage/rent, student loans, credit cards, other).
  3. Pick affordability rule: 20/4/10 (most conservative), 10% rule, 15% rule, DTI-based.
  4. Read max recommended car price, max monthly payment, and max loan amount.
  5. If you're considering a car above the recommended price, calculate the monthly stretch — if it requires extending the loan past 60 months, reconsider.
  6. Factor in non-payment costs: insurance ($1,200-2,400/yr), fuel ($1,500-3,000/yr), maintenance ($600-1,500/yr), registration. Total annual carrying cost is 30-50% on top of payment.

Ne Zaman Kullanılır

  • Pre-shopping budget setting — knowing your max BEFORE walking onto a dealer lot prevents emotional overspending.
  • Comparing buy vs lease — affordability framework reveals lease often costs more long-term despite lower monthly.
  • Adjusting after life events — new baby, job change, mortgage approval all change car affordability; recalculate.
  • Sanity-checking dealer financing offers — if monthly payment fits the rule, the loan is reasonable; if it requires extending term, it's not.

Ne Zaman Kullanılmaz

  • Cash buyers — affordability formulas built around financing don't apply; just pick a price you can pay without depleting savings.
  • Business vehicle purchases — different deductibility and financing structures (Section 179, lease deductions) make consumer rules misleading.
  • Specialty vehicles (RVs, boats, exotic cars) — these depreciate and finance differently from standard daily-driver cars.
  • Subscription / monthly car services (Care by Volvo, Audi Select) — those bundle insurance + maintenance with rental-style pricing not captured by typical loan calculators.

Yaygın Kullanım Senaryoları

  • Pre-decision sanity-check on inputs and outputs
  • Educational use — demonstrating the underlying concept
  • Onboarding a colleague who needs the same calculation/conversion
  • Verifying a number or output before passing it on

Sık Sorulan Sorular

What's the 20/4/10 rule for car buying?

20% down payment, 4-year maximum loan term, no more than 10% of monthly gross income on total car costs (payment + insurance + fuel). This is the 'financially conservative' baseline that keeps you from being car-poor. Most Americans violate at least one of the three.

Should I buy new or used?

Used for financial optimization — cars lose 20% in year one. A 2-3 year old car is often 30-40% cheaper than new with most of the life left. Buy new only if you're keeping it 10+ years and want the warranty peace of mind. Certified pre-owned is the safest middle ground.

How much car can I afford on a $60k salary?

Rule of thumb: total price ≤ 35% of annual gross income = ~$21,000. Stricter (10% rule): monthly car budget ~$500/month, which buys roughly a $25k car with $5k down and 5% interest. Err conservative — cars depreciate while student loans and home prices appreciate.

Is a lease ever better than buying?

Sometimes. Leasing makes sense if you want a new car every 3 years and won't exceed mileage caps (10-15k/year). It's financially worse long-run vs buying-and-keeping — 10 years of leasing costs 40-60% more than buying and holding. Lease if you value newness; buy if you value wealth building.