How the calculator works
- The amount you borrow: the car price, less your deposit and trade-in.
- Your repayments: worked out so equal payments repay the loan, with interest, by the end of the loan.
- The real cost: everything you pay, up front and in repayments. The chart below shows how much of each year’s payments goes on interest.
An example
A $40,000 car with a $4,000 deposit leaves $36,000 to borrow. At 7.48% over five years, that’s $721.02 a month and $7,262 of interest. Secured new car loans for good borrowers averaged 7.48% a year in July 2026, according to the Reserve Bank of Australia.
The rate you’re offered depends on your credit history, the lender, the car’s age and the loan length, so use your own rate for the most accurate result.