How Much Would the Monthly Car Payment Be on a $50,000 Car? (2024)

The average price of a new car is just over $48,000 and could soon hit $50,000, according to industry experts. That's a lot of money to save up for a vehicle, so chances are good you'll probably have to borrow to buy it.

If you don't have the cash in a high-yield savings account and need a loan to get a new car, how much would the monthly payments be? Here's what you need to know.

This is how much a $50,000 car could cost you

When you buy a car, you'll typically need a down payment. Generally, you should aim to put around 10% down to help you qualify for the best rate on an auto loan. This will also ensure you don't find yourself owing a lot more than the car is worth, since vehicles depreciate (or go down in value) pretty fast.

So, if you wanted to buy a $50,000 car, you should save up around $5,000 for the down payment. That would leave you with a car loan balance of $45,000. And the monthly payment on that amount would vary depending on two factors: the interest rate you were offered and the term of your car loan.

The table below shows how much your monthly payment and total interest costs would be at different loan rates with different term lengths (including if you borrowed at 6.07%, which was the average loan rate to buy a new car as of the end of 2022):

As you can see, a longer payoff term comes with lower monthly payments that could be more affordable. But you significantly increase your interest costs over time if you take many years to repay a loan.

And even with a pretty reasonable interest rate and a long payoff time, the monthly payments on a $50,000 car are still very expensive.

Can you afford a $50,000 car?

In general, you should try to keep your monthly car payments to 10% of your take-home income or less. If you wanted to stick to this rule of thumb and buy a $50,000 car, you would need a monthly take-home income of at least $7,240 if you got a car loan at a below-average rate and stretched out your payoff time for a long time.

Many people will find that purchasing such an expensive car really isn't affordable. If that's the case, that's OK. You have a few options, including:

  • Buying a less expensive used car. This is often your best bet, since cars depreciate quickly and you take a huge financial hit if you buy brand new.
  • Saving up to buy a more expensive car so you don't have to borrow as much. If you want a nice new car, there's nothing wrong with prioritizing this in your budget and saving up enough money to make a larger down payment so you can purchase the car and keep your monthly payments reasonable.

One technique that worked great for me was buying a cheap used car, paying it off quickly, and then continuing to make "monthly car payments" into a savings account (basically diverting the money I was using to make car payments into savings).

After driving the reliable used car for a long time, I ended up with enough money to buy a really nice used car for cash, which I drove for well over a decade while continuing to make "car payments." That, in turn, gave me a big enough balance to finally buy the brand-new car with cash that I'm driving now.

Committing to a huge car loan you might not be able to afford is not a smart financial move, so you may want to try my approach -- especially with the price of new cars climbing to a point where borrowing for them may be beyond reach.

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How Much Would the Monthly Car Payment Be on a $50,000 Car? (2024)

FAQs

How Much Would the Monthly Car Payment Be on a $50,000 Car? ›

Terms may apply to offers listed on this page. The average price of a new car could soon be $50,000, according to industry experts. The loan payments on a $50,000 car could be $724 or higher -- depending on down payment, interest rate, and loan term length. This would make buying a new car unaffordable for many.

How much would a monthly payment be on a $50,000 loan? ›

Here's what a $50,000 loan would cost you each month
8.00%
Two-Year Repayment$2,261.36/month, $4,272.75 in interest over time
Seven-Year Repayment$779.31/month, $15,462.10 in interest over time
10-Year Repayment$606.64/month, $22,796.56 in interest over time
Jan 20, 2024

What's a good down payment on a 50k car? ›

In general, you should strive to make a down payment of at least 20% of a new car's purchase price. For used cars, try for at least 10% down. If you can't afford the recommended amount, put down as much as you can without draining your savings or emergency funds.

What credit score do you need for a $50,000 car loan? ›

To buy a $50,000 car and get favorable auto loan options, it's best to have a credit score in the prime or super prime categories. Prime borrowers are those with a credit score within the 661-780 range, while super-prime borrowers fall within the 781-850 range.

How much is the monthly payment for a $40,000 car? ›

If you are offered a 2% interest rate for three years (or 36 months), 3% for four years (48 months), 4% for five years (60 months), and 5% for six years (72 months), your monthly payments for a $40,000 loan will be as follows: Three years – $1,146. Four years – $885. Five years – $737.

What's the payment on a $50,000 car loan? ›

The loan payments on a $50,000 car could be $724 or higher -- depending on down payment, interest rate, and loan term length. This would make buying a new car unaffordable for many.

What credit score is needed for a 50k loan? ›

You'll have the best chance of getting approved with an excellent credit score, such as one above 800. You may struggle to find a lender that will approve a $50,000 loan for folks with poor or bad credit. A "poor" credit score is considered 580 or under. Most lenders require at least a "fair" score of around 670.

What salary to afford a 50k car? ›

If you follow the 20/4/10 rule (20% down/4 Year Loan/10% Monthly Income) assuming your APR will be around 5% a person would need to make at least 10000 a month or 120000 a year to comfortably afford a $50000 car. Do most people follow this rule...

What are the disadvantages of a large down payment on a car? ›

What Are the Disadvantages of a Large Down Payment? Providing more money down doesn't guarantee a lower interest rate, and it can cut into your savings.

How old of a car can I finance for 72 months? ›

There's no universal maximum loan term for a used car. However, lenders and banks typically follow common guidelines, especially as it relates to age and mileage. For example, you usually can't finance a used car older than 10 years with a five year loan.

Is it hard to get approved for a 50000 loan? ›

For a $50,000 personal loan, lenders will likely want to see a strong credit score and history. Requirements vary from lender to lender, but a relatively high credit score may be a prerequisite to qualify for a sizable loan.

What credit score do you need to get 0% interest on a car? ›

Credit score: You might need a credit score of at least 740 to be considered for a 0% APR loan. The minimum credit score depends on the dealership and the car you're interested in purchasing.

Can I get a 50k loan with no credit? ›

$50,000 loans may be available to people with no credit or bad credit, these options likely will come with higher interest rates, fees, or even the need to provide collateral to get approved.

How much money should I be making to afford a 40k car? ›

To afford a car that costs $40,000, financial experts suggest that your annual income should be at least 2.5 times the purchase price. This means you would need to make at least $100,000 per year. Additionally, it's recommended to not spend more than 35% of your gross annual income on a car 2 .

How much would a $50,000 personal loan cost per month? ›

Example Monthly Payments on a $50,000 Personal Loan
Payoff periodAPRMonthly payment
24 months15%$2,424
36 months15%$1,733
48 months15%$1,392
60 months15%$1,189
3 more rows
Aug 31, 2021

What's a good down payment on a 40k car? ›

It's good practice to make a down payment of at least 20% on a new car (10% for used).

Is it hard to get a personal loan for 50k? ›

For a $50,000 personal loan, lenders will likely want to see a strong credit score and history. Requirements vary from lender to lender, but a relatively high credit score may be a prerequisite to qualify for a sizable loan.

How much would a $50,000 mortgage cost per month? ›

Term length
Mortgage AmountTerm LengthMonthly Repayments
£50k25 years£278
£50k30 years£253
£50k35 years£237
£50k40 years£225
3 more rows
Feb 12, 2024

What is the monthly interest on an $50,000 loan? ›

EMI for Rs 50,000 Personal Loan for Tenures of 1-5 Years
Loan amount (Rs)Tenure (years)EMI (Rs)
50,00014,419
50,00022,330
50,00031,637
50,00041,292
1 more row
Mar 29, 2024

Is 50000 a lot in loans? ›

With $50,000 in student loan debt, your monthly payments could be quite expensive. Depending on how much debt you have and your interest rate, your payments will likely be about $500 per month or more. Your potential savings from refinancing will vary based on your loan terms.

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