Slide the numbers. Weekly, fortnightly, monthly, plus total interest and total repaid, all live.
The whole tool on one page. Share the URL and your numbers travel with it, so a co-buyer or partner can open the same calculation. Your inputs also travel through to our finance partner when you're ready to get a formal rate.
Amount
$5k to $150k
Term
1 to 5 yrs
Rate
0 to 20%
Your estimated repayment
Weekly
$91/week
Total interest
$3,761
Total repaid
$23,761
We are not a finance company. Indicative only. Not a quote or offer of credit. Actual rates, fees, and repayments depend on your circumstances and the lender's decision.
What each number means
The calculator shows five figures. Each one helps you compare scenarios from a different angle.
Primary
The projected weekly repayment. This is the figure we centre on because most NZ households budget weekly, and pay cycles align to it. A weekly repayment over 10% of weekly net income is commonly regarded as a signal that the loan is too big for the household budget.
Supporting
Same cost, different rhythm. Fortnightly suits borrowers paid fortnightly who want exact matching of income to loan repayment. Monthly suits comparison against bills or rent and mortgage that arrive monthly.
The cost of borrowing
How much extra is paid over the life of the loan compared to buying with cash. This is the number to watch when deciding between a 3-year and a 7-year term. Longer terms always pay more here, often dramatically more.
The final number
The sum of every repayment across the loan. Principal plus total interest. Comparing this to the car's current price shows the true cost of the vehicle once finance is included.
Deposit math
The effect on a $20,000 car loan at 7% over 5 years. Even $2,000 down saves you meaningfully on total interest.
| Deposit | Financed | Weekly | Monthly | Total interest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $0 | $20,000 | $91.39 | $396.02 | $3,761 |
| $2,000 | $18,000 | $82.25 | $356.42 | $3,385 |
| $4,000 | $16,000 | $73.11 | $316.82 | $3,009 |
| $6,000 | $14,000 | $63.97 | $277.22 | $2,633 |
Indicative only. The 7% rate and 5-year term are fixed across all rows so deposit is the only variable.
Getting the most out of it
Not everyone qualifies for 7%. If you have thin credit, stretch the rate to 10-12% for a realistic picture. If you're refinancing a loan you already have, use your current rate first, then try the target rate to see the savings.
Slide the term from 5 years to 4, then 3. Watch the total interest line. The drop is usually bigger than the weekly cost increase, so a shorter term often represents better value if you can afford it.
Put in the deposit you're genuinely able to commit. Then try one where you added $500 or $1,000 more. The interest saving usually exceeds what the extra deposit would earn sitting in a savings account.
Your inputs are in the page URL. Copy and send to a co-buyer, a partner, or yourself on another device. When they open the link, the calculator loads with your exact numbers. Useful for aligning a household decision before any application.
Common questions
The default 7% represents a competitive secured car-loan rate in NZ for a borrower with a clean credit record and a deposit. Mainstream used-car rates usually run 8 to 12%. Borrowers with a thin file or lower credit score often benefit from modelling 13 to 16% to set realistic expectations. Actual rates are confirmed by the lender after application; the calculator is an estimate, not a quote.
No. The calculator shows principal and interest only. NZ car loans typically add a one-off establishment fee ($150 to $500) and a monthly account fee ($5 to $20). Insurance is required by most lenders but is a separate product, not part of the loan repayment. These costs are commonly added to the household budget on top of the calculator figure.
Because most NZ pay cycles are weekly or fortnightly, and household budgets are easier to plan against a weekly figure than a monthly one. Dealers and lenders usually quote monthly because bigger numbers sound more "rounded" to the buyer, but the weekly number is what actually lands in the wage packet.
Yes. The calculator writes the inputs into the URL as the sliders move. The URL can be copied and sent to a co-buyer or partner, and when they open it the calculator loads with the same settings. Useful for getting aligned with a household decision before anyone talks to a lender.
The maths is precise. It uses the standard amortised-loan formula that every NZ lender runs. What the calculator doesn't know is the applicant's personal rate, which depends on credit history, deposit, the car, the lender, and the day. The numbers are directionally correct and exact only once the lender confirms the actual rate.
Yes. When the deposit slider moves, the calculator subtracts it from the loan amount and only charges interest on the remainder. That is why even a small deposit visibly drops the weekly number. Total outlay is deposit plus total repaid, which can still be lower overall than a zero-deposit loan because there is less interest.
Our finance partner will give you a formal estimate based on your circumstances, comparing multiple NZ lenders. Your calculator inputs travel across with you, so the application starts warm.
Disclaimer
A car loan is a commitment that runs for years, and repayments come out of the same pay cheque as everything else. Before committing, it is worth modelling the weekly and monthly cost against the household budget, which is what this site is built to help with. Borrowing at a level that stays comfortable on a bad week, not a good one, is widely regarded as the safer frame.
Carfinance.org.nz earns a commission from a partner brand when a visitor applies through this site and their application is approved. That commission is paid by the partner, not the applicant, and it does not influence the rate the lender offers. We refer every visitor to the same partner because they compare multiple New Zealand lenders on the applicant's behalf, so the recommendation is not driven by a sponsored deal. Every figure shown on this site is a modelled estimate based on the inputs entered; the actual rate, fees, and repayments are set by the lender after assessing the applicant's circumstances and own credit decision. Carfinance.org.nz is a calculator and information tool. We are not a lender, not a broker, and not a registered financial adviser. Any decision about whether a specific loan suits a specific situation is best made after talking with the lender, and for amounts that materially affect the household, with a registered financial adviser.
We are finalising our New Zealand finance partner. The calculator above is the whole tool, and the figures you have already worked out are yours to keep. Check back soon, the partner referral will go live here.
