Car finance calculator

A 72-month car loan can make sense in some cases, but it typically only applies if you have good credit. When you have bad credit, a 72-month auto loan can sound appealing due to the lower monthly payment, but, in reality, you're probably going to pay more than you bargained for.

To calculate your monthly car loan payment by hand, divide the total loan and interest amount by the loan term (the number of months you have to repay the loan). For example, the total interest on a $30,000, 60-month loan at 4% would be $3,150.

According to Middletown Honda, depending on your credit score, good car loan interest rates can range anywhere from 3 percent to almost 14 percent. However, most three-year car loans for someone with an average to above-average credit score come with a roughly 3 percent to 4.5 percent interest rate.

With a loan amount of $30,000, an interest rate of 8%, and a loan repayment period of 60-months, your monthly payment is around $700.