The Tennessee auto loan calculator estimate for a $35,000 new car with $3,500 down, financed over 60 months at today's MonitorBankRates Tennessee average new auto loan APR of 6.41% with the Tennessee vehicle sales tax of 7.00% and $300 in fees added to the loan, is a monthly car payment of about $669, or about $757 a month with the average Tennessee car insurance premium included, verified by MonitorBankRates as of September 24, 2026.
Lenders serving Tennessee currently advertise auto loan APRs from 2.00% to 3.75% across the 5 offers listed below. This calculator finances what a Tennessee dealer actually finances: the price minus your down payment and trade in, plus Tennessee sales tax (local rates can add to the state rate) and fees. The APR is today's MonitorBankRates Tennessee average; switch to used with one click or apply a verified lender APR from the panel below. The same loan at the Tennessee used car average of 6.85% costs about $676 a month.
Tennessee Car Payment Estimator
Prefilled with the MonitorBankRates Tennessee average APR, the Tennessee sales tax rate and average insurance. Results update as you type.
Where the amount financed comes from
| Vehicle price | $0 |
| Tennessee 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 Tennessee Average Auto Loan Rates
Today's MonitorBankRates Tennessee averages first, then the lowest verified new and used offers from lenders serving Tennessee. Click any APR to run it through the calculator.
Auto Loan Offers in Tennessee and the Payment on a $35,000 Car
Monthly payment on the example loan ($34,250 financed after $3,500 down, Tennessee tax and fees) at each lender's advertised APR and term, from rate sheets published by the lender and verified by MonitorBankRates.
- Southeast Financial Credit UnionNew Car & Truck Loans2.00% APR$600 a month over 60 months
- LG&W Federal Credit UnionNew and Used Auto Loans3.25% APR$619 a month over 60 months
- American Airlines Federal Credit UnionNew Auto3.34% APR$621 a month over 60 months
- FedTrust Federal Credit UnionNew and Promotional Rate Auto 2024 - 2027 Vehicles3.50% APR$623 a month over 60 months
- United Southeast Federal Credit UnionNew Auto ('26 or Newer)3.75% APR$627 a month over 60 months
Compare every new and used auto loan, local banks and credit unions first, on the Tennessee auto loan rates page.
View Your Tennessee Auto Loan Rate
Personalized auto loan offers from lenders serving Tennessee.
What a Car Loan Costs in Tennessee Right Now
| $35,000 new car, $3,500 down, Tennessee tax and fees: $34,250 financed at the MonitorBankRates Tennessee average of 6.41% | Monthly | Total interest |
|---|---|---|
| 36 months | $1,048 | $3,492 |
| 48 months | $811 | $4,672 |
| 60 months | $669 | $5,876 |
| 72 months | $574 | $7,102 |
| 84 months | $507 | $8,352 |
Tennessee sales tax adds $2,450 to a $35,000 car, which at 6.41% over 60 months is about $48 of the monthly payment. Because Tennessee taxes the price after the trade in, trading in a $10,000 car at the dealer saves $700 in tax compared with selling it privately. The Tennessee average APR of 6.41% is above the U.S. average of 5.88%. Add the average Tennessee car insurance premium of $88 a month and the car costs about $757 a month to keep on the road before fuel and maintenance, which is 13.0% of the Tennessee median household income of $69,595. Rates change daily; every figure on this page is recalculated when it loads from the current MonitorBankRates Tennessee average.
Car Payments by Price in Tennessee
10% down, Tennessee sales tax of 7.00% and $300 in fees financed, 60 months at the MonitorBankRates Tennessee averages for new (6.41%) and used (6.85%) cars.
| Price | Down | Tennessee tax | Amount financed | New car payment | Used car payment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $15,000 | $1,500 | $1,050 | $14,850 | $290 | $293 |
| $25,000 | $2,500 | $1,750 | $24,550 | $479 | $484 |
| $35,000 | $3,500 | $2,450 | $34,250 | $669 | $676 |
| $45,000 | $4,500 | $3,150 | $43,950 | $858 | $867 |
| $60,000 | $6,000 | $4,200 | $58,500 | $1,142 | $1,154 |
Buying a Car in Tennessee: Tax, Fees and Insurance
Sales tax. State rate of 7% plus a local rate on the first $1,600 and a state single article tax on $1,600 to $3,200. The calculator uses the state rate of 7.00%; 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. In Tennessee the trade in value is subtracted before tax is figured, so a $10,000 trade in saves $700 in tax on top of lowering the loan.
Fees. Title, registration and plate fees are set by the Tennessee 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 Tennessee car insurance premium is about $1,061 a year, or $88 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 Tennessee car insurance page.
How to Use the Tennessee Auto Loan Calculator
- Start from the Tennessee defaults
The APR is today's MonitorBankRates Tennessee average, the sales tax is the Tennessee 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 Tennessee. 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 Tennessee
What is the average auto loan rate in Tennessee today?
The MonitorBankRates Tennessee average new auto loan APR is 6.41% as of September 24, 2026, and the average used auto loan APR is 6.85%, computed every day from rates published by banks and credit unions lending in Tennessee. Individual lenders currently advertise APRs from 2.00% to 3.75% for borrowers with strong credit; compare offers on the Tennessee auto loan rates page.
How much is the car payment on a $35,000 car in Tennessee?
With $3,500 down, Tennessee sales tax of 7.00% and $300 in fees, the amount financed is $34,250. At the MonitorBankRates Tennessee average new auto loan APR of 6.41% that is about $669 a month over 60 months, $811 over 48 months, or $574 over 72 months.
What is the sales tax on a car in Tennessee?
State rate of 7% plus a local rate on the first $1,600 and a state single article tax on $1,600 to $3,200. On a $35,000 car the state rate of 7.00% comes to $2,450. The trade in value is subtracted before tax in Tennessee.
Does a trade in reduce sales tax in Tennessee?
Yes. Tennessee charges sales tax on the purchase price minus the trade in, so a $10,000 trade in saves $700 in tax at the 7.00% state rate in addition to lowering the loan.
How much is car insurance in Tennessee?
The NAIC average car insurance premium in Tennessee is about $1,061 a year, or $88 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 $757 a month for the example car.
What loan term should I choose?
The shortest term whose payment fits. On the $34,250 example at 6.41%, 48 months costs $811 a month, 60 months $669, and 84 months $507. The 84 month loan pays about $2,476 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 Tennessee?
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 $68 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.
