The California auto loan calculator estimate for a $35,000 new car with $3,500 down, financed over 60 months at today's MonitorBankRates California average new auto loan APR of 5.67% with the California vehicle sales tax of 7.25% and $300 in fees added to the loan, is a monthly car payment of about $659, or about $763 a month with the average California car insurance premium included, verified by MonitorBankRates as of September 24, 2026.
Lenders serving California currently advertise auto loan APRs from 3.05% to 3.50% across the 5 offers listed below. This calculator finances what a California dealer actually finances: the price minus your down payment and trade in, plus California sales tax (local rates can add to the state rate) and fees. The APR is today's MonitorBankRates California average; switch to used with one click or apply a verified lender APR from the panel below. The same loan at the California used car average of 5.91% costs about $662 a month.
California Car Payment Estimator
Prefilled with the MonitorBankRates California average APR, the California sales tax rate and average insurance. Results update as you type.
Where the amount financed comes from
| Vehicle price | $0 |
| California sales tax | $0 |
| Title, registration and fees | $0 |
| Down payment | $0 |
| Trade in | $0 |
| Amount financed | $0 |
Loan balance over time
Amortization schedule (yearly totals)
| Year | Principal Paid | Interest Paid | Ending Balance |
|---|
Current California Average Auto Loan Rates
Today's MonitorBankRates California averages first, then the lowest verified new and used offers from lenders serving California. Click any APR to run it through the calculator.
Auto Loan Offers in California and the Payment on a $35,000 Car
Monthly payment on the example loan ($34,338 financed after $3,500 down, California tax and fees) at each lender's advertised APR and term, from rate sheets published by the lender and verified by MonitorBankRates.
- Foothill Credit UnionNew Auto Truck3.05% APR$618 a month over 60 months
- Long Beach Firemens Credit UnionNew Vehicle Loan3.25% APR$621 a month over 60 months
- American Airlines Federal Credit UnionNew Auto3.34% APR$622 a month over 60 months
- La Loma Federal Credit UnionNew Vehicle Loan3.49% APR$625 a month over 60 months
- Utility District Credit UnionNew Auto Loans - 2026-20273.50% APR$625 a month over 60 months
Compare every new and used auto loan, local banks and credit unions first, on the California auto loan rates page.
View Your California Auto Loan Rate
Personalized auto loan offers from lenders serving California.
What a Car Loan Costs in California Right Now
| $35,000 new car, $3,500 down, California tax and fees: $34,338 financed at the MonitorBankRates California average of 5.67% | Monthly | Total interest |
|---|---|---|
| 36 months | $1,039 | $3,084 |
| 48 months | $801 | $4,122 |
| 60 months | $659 | $5,178 |
| 72 months | $564 | $6,252 |
| 84 months | $496 | $7,344 |
California sales tax adds $2,538 to a $35,000 car, which at 5.67% over 60 months is about $49 of the monthly payment. California charges tax on the full price, so a trade in does not reduce the tax bill. The California average APR of 5.67% is below the U.S. average of 5.88%. Add the average California car insurance premium of $104 a month and the car costs about $763 a month to keep on the road before fuel and maintenance, which is 9.2% of the California median household income of $99,122. Rates change daily; every figure on this page is recalculated when it loads from the current MonitorBankRates California average.
Car Payments by Price in California
10% down, California sales tax of 7.25% and $300 in fees financed, 60 months at the MonitorBankRates California averages for new (5.67%) and used (5.91%) cars.
| Price | Down | California tax | Amount financed | New car payment | Used car payment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $15,000 | $1,500 | $1,088 | $14,888 | $286 | $287 |
| $25,000 | $2,500 | $1,813 | $24,613 | $472 | $475 |
| $35,000 | $3,500 | $2,538 | $34,338 | $659 | $662 |
| $45,000 | $4,500 | $3,263 | $44,063 | $845 | $850 |
| $60,000 | $6,000 | $4,350 | $58,650 | $1,125 | $1,131 |
Buying a Car in California: Tax, Fees and Insurance
Sales tax. Statewide rate of 7.25%; district taxes push most areas to 8% to 10.75%. No trade in credit. The calculator uses the state rate of 7.25%; enter your combined local rate for an exact figure. Dealers add the tax to the amount financed unless you pay it at signing, so it costs interest for the life of the loan.
Trade in. California charges tax on the full purchase price, so a trade in lowers the loan but not the tax bill; a private sale may net more.
Fees. Title, registration and plate fees are set by the California motor vehicle agency and vary by vehicle; dealer documentation fees are set by the dealer and run from about $100 to more than $800 depending on the state. The calculator uses $300 as a placeholder; replace it with the figures on your buyer's order.
Insurance. The average California car insurance premium is about $1,250 a year, or $104 a month, according to the NAIC, compared with about $1,258 nationally. Lenders require full coverage on a financed car, so budget for it alongside the payment. Compare carriers on the California car insurance page.
How to Use the California Auto Loan Calculator
- Start from the California defaults
The APR is today's MonitorBankRates California average, the sales tax is the California vehicle rate and the insurance line is the state average. Switch to used with one click.
- Enter the deal
Type the negotiated price, your down payment and trade in, and the fees from the buyer's order. Add your local tax rate if your county or city charges more than the state rate.
- Click a verified lender APR
The panel lists the lowest current new and used offers from lenders serving California. One click applies that APR and term.
- Read the full monthly cost
The large figure is the loan payment. Payment plus insurance shows what the car costs each month to keep on the road.
Frequently Asked Questions About Car Loans in California
What is the average auto loan rate in California today?
The MonitorBankRates California average new auto loan APR is 5.67% as of September 24, 2026, and the average used auto loan APR is 5.91%, computed every day from rates published by banks and credit unions lending in California. Individual lenders currently advertise APRs from 3.05% to 3.50% for borrowers with strong credit; compare offers on the California auto loan rates page.
How much is the car payment on a $35,000 car in California?
With $3,500 down, California sales tax of 7.25% and $300 in fees, the amount financed is $34,338. At the MonitorBankRates California average new auto loan APR of 5.67% that is about $659 a month over 60 months, $801 over 48 months, or $564 over 72 months.
What is the sales tax on a car in California?
Statewide rate of 7.25%; district taxes push most areas to 8% to 10.75%. No trade in credit. On a $35,000 car the state rate of 7.25% comes to $2,538. California taxes the full price with no trade in credit.
Does a trade in reduce sales tax in California?
No. California charges tax on the full purchase price regardless of a trade in, so the trade in lowers the loan but not the tax. Compare the dealer offer with a private sale.
How much is car insurance in California?
The NAIC average car insurance premium in California is about $1,250 a year, or $104 a month, compared with about $1,258 nationally. Full coverage is required on a financed car, so the calculator adds the premium to the payment: about $763 a month for the example car.
What loan term should I choose?
The shortest term whose payment fits. On the $34,338 example at 5.67%, 48 months costs $801 a month, 60 months $659, and 84 months $496. The 84 month loan pays about $2,166 more interest than the 60 month loan and leaves you owing more than the car is worth for years.
How much should I put down on a car in California?
At least 10% on a used car and 20% on a new one is the usual guidance. Twenty percent down on the $35,000 example, $7,000, cuts the payment by about $67 a month and reduces the time you owe more than the car is worth.
Auto Loan Calculators for Other States
Each state page starts from that state's MonitorBankRates average APR, vehicle sales tax rate and average car insurance cost. The national auto loan calculator compares the payment on the same car in every state.
