True Cost · Vehicles · Free

See the true cost before you sign.

Most car calculators stop at the monthly payment. This one shows the rest: what each choice really takes each month, where it leaves you years from now, and what the difference could build instead.

  1. 1Set up both choicesFill in Choice 1, then tap Choice 2. Loan or cash, buy or keep.
  2. 2Fast forwardSee what each one really costs over 3, 5 or 7 years.
  3. 3Rewind and change one thingCopy a choice, tweak the rate, price or loan length, and compare.
What this calculator does, and doesn’t

It does

  • Compare two choices side by side: buy vs. buy, buy vs. keep, or loan vs. cash.
  • Count everything you pay: payments, money down, interest, sales tax and fees, insurance, gas, and maintenance.
  • Subtract what the vehicle is still worth and what you still owe, so you see the real cost, not just the payment.
  • Fast-forward 3, 5 or 7 years to show where each choice leaves you.
  • Run free, with no signup. Your numbers stay on your device.

It doesn’t

  • Quote you a loan or a price. Your real rate and price come from your lender and dealer.
  • Know your vehicle’s exact future value. It uses a steady yearly loss that you can change.
  • Handle leases, or a trade-in you owe more on than it’s worth. Not yet.
  • Include add-ons like extended warranties or GAP unless you add their cost to the price or fees.
  • Give financial advice. It’s an estimate from the numbers you enter.

Already have numbers from a dealer? Run a Deal Check before you sign →

Your two choices. Tap one to switch.

Sample numbers are loaded. Replace them with yours.

The payment vs. what it really takes

Fast Forward

Real cost counts everything you put in (cash, plus any trade-in or car you already own) minus what you would walk away with if you sold it then and paid off the loan. It is a simulation from your numbers, not a prediction.

DimeSeed provides educational financial modeling. Results are estimates based on your inputs and the stated assumptions, not guaranteed outcomes or personalized financial advice.

Seeds: give the difference a purpose

Deal Check · Founding Member

Got numbers from a dealer? Check them before you sign.

$29 one time · 12 months · no subscription

  • Enter the numbers from the dealer’s worksheet and get an instant report.
  • Finds add-ons, markups and fees, and shows what each one costs with interest.
  • Checks the quoted payment against the numbers, and your rate against the average for your credit.
  • Shows the deal without the extras, plus the questions to ask the dealer. Save it as a PDF.
  • Use it on every deal for 12 months, plus every new DimeSeed calculator.
Get Deal Check · $29 See a sample report

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