The South Carolina auto loan calculator estimate for a $35,000 new car with $3,500 down, financed over 60 months at today's MonitorBankRates South Carolina average new auto loan APR of 5.21% with the South Carolina vehicle sales tax of 5.00% and $300 in fees added to the loan, is a monthly car payment of about $636, or about $747 a month with the average South Carolina car insurance premium included, verified by MonitorBankRates as of September 24, 2026.
Lenders serving South Carolina currently advertise auto loan APRs from 3.49% to 3.90% across the 5 offers listed below. This calculator finances what a South Carolina dealer actually finances: the price minus your down payment and trade in, plus South Carolina sales tax and fees. The APR is today's MonitorBankRates South Carolina average; switch to used with one click or apply a verified lender APR from the panel below. The same loan at the South Carolina used car average of 6.51% costs about $657 a month.
South Carolina Car Payment Estimator
Prefilled with the MonitorBankRates South Carolina average APR, the South Carolina sales tax rate and average insurance. Results update as you type.
Where the amount financed comes from
| Vehicle price | $0 |
| South Carolina 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 South Carolina Average Auto Loan Rates
Today's MonitorBankRates South Carolina averages first, then the lowest verified new and used offers from lenders serving South Carolina. Click any APR to run it through the calculator.
Auto Loan Offers in South Carolina and the Payment on a $35,000 Car
Monthly payment on the example loan ($33,550 financed after $3,500 down, South Carolina tax and fees) at each lender's advertised APR and term, from rate sheets published by the lender and verified by MonitorBankRates.
- Market USA Federal Credit UnionNew Auto Loan3.49% APR$610 a month over 60 months
- Columbia Post Office Credit UnionNew Cars 2023-2026 Loan3.50% APR$610 a month over 60 months
- Tru Federal Credit UnionNew Vehicle Loan3.50% APR$610 a month over 60 months
- Greenville Federal Credit UnionAuto Loans3.74% APR$614 a month over 60 months
- SPC Credit UnionCar Loan Special3.90% APR$616 a month over 60 months
Compare every new and used auto loan, local banks and credit unions first, on the South Carolina auto loan rates page.
View Your South Carolina Auto Loan Rate
Personalized auto loan offers from lenders serving South Carolina.
What a Car Loan Costs in South Carolina Right Now
| $35,000 new car, $3,500 down, South Carolina tax and fees: $33,550 financed at the MonitorBankRates South Carolina average of 5.21% | Monthly | Total interest |
|---|---|---|
| 36 months | $1,009 | $2,762 |
| 48 months | $776 | $3,689 |
| 60 months | $636 | $4,631 |
| 72 months | $544 | $5,588 |
| 84 months | $477 | $6,560 |
South Carolina sales tax adds $1,750 to a $35,000 car, which at 5.21% over 60 months is about $33 of the monthly payment. Because South Carolina taxes the price after the trade in, trading in a $10,000 car at the dealer saves $500 in tax compared with selling it privately. The South Carolina average APR of 5.21% is below the U.S. average of 5.88%. Add the average South Carolina car insurance premium of $111 a month and the car costs about $747 a month to keep on the road before fuel and maintenance, which is 12.9% of the South Carolina median household income of $69,324. Rates change daily; every figure on this page is recalculated when it loads from the current MonitorBankRates South Carolina average.
Car Payments by Price in South Carolina
10% down, South Carolina sales tax of 5.00% and $300 in fees financed, 60 months at the MonitorBankRates South Carolina averages for new (5.21%) and used (6.51%) cars.
| Price | Down | South Carolina tax | Amount financed | New car payment | Used car payment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $15,000 | $1,500 | $750 | $14,550 | $276 | $285 |
| $25,000 | $2,500 | $1,250 | $24,050 | $456 | $471 |
| $35,000 | $3,500 | $1,750 | $33,550 | $636 | $657 |
| $45,000 | $4,500 | $2,250 | $43,050 | $817 | $842 |
| $60,000 | $6,000 | $3,000 | $57,300 | $1,087 | $1,121 |
Buying a Car in South Carolina: Tax, Fees and Insurance
Sales tax. Infrastructure maintenance fee of 5%, capped at $500. 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. In South Carolina the trade in value is subtracted before tax is figured, so a $10,000 trade in saves $500 in tax on top of lowering the loan.
Fees. Title, registration and plate fees are set by the South Carolina 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 South Carolina car insurance premium is about $1,332 a year, or $111 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 South Carolina car insurance page.
How to Use the South Carolina Auto Loan Calculator
- Start from the South Carolina defaults
The APR is today's MonitorBankRates South Carolina average, the sales tax is the South Carolina 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 South Carolina. 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 South Carolina
What is the average auto loan rate in South Carolina today?
The MonitorBankRates South Carolina average new auto loan APR is 5.21% as of September 24, 2026, and the average used auto loan APR is 6.51%, computed every day from rates published by banks and credit unions lending in South Carolina. Individual lenders currently advertise APRs from 3.49% to 3.90% for borrowers with strong credit; compare offers on the South Carolina auto loan rates page.
How much is the car payment on a $35,000 car in South Carolina?
With $3,500 down, South Carolina sales tax of 5.00% and $300 in fees, the amount financed is $33,550. At the MonitorBankRates South Carolina average new auto loan APR of 5.21% that is about $636 a month over 60 months, $776 over 48 months, or $544 over 72 months.
What is the sales tax on a car in South Carolina?
Infrastructure maintenance fee of 5%, capped at $500. On a $35,000 car the state rate of 5.00% comes to $1,750. The trade in value is subtracted before tax in South Carolina.
Does a trade in reduce sales tax in South Carolina?
Yes. South Carolina charges sales tax on the purchase price minus the trade in, so a $10,000 trade in saves $500 in tax at the 5.00% state rate in addition to lowering the loan.
How much is car insurance in South Carolina?
The NAIC average car insurance premium in South Carolina is about $1,332 a year, or $111 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 $747 a month for the example car.
What loan term should I choose?
The shortest term whose payment fits. On the $33,550 example at 5.21%, 48 months costs $776 a month, 60 months $636, and 84 months $477. The 84 month loan pays about $1,929 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 South Carolina?
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 $66 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.
