Covers the full buy-and-sell lifecycle — loan payment, sales tax / VAT / GST, stamp duty, registration, and true first-year ownership cost on the buy side, plus trade-in vs private sale on the sell side — for the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Current 2026 figures, editable rates.
CarEarn calculates the true total cost of buying a car and the real net proceeds of selling one, across the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, covering the full buy-and-sell lifecycle for all five countries in one place. On the buy side it computes your monthly loan payment, sales tax / VAT / GST, stamp duty, registration, and a true first-year ownership cost. On the sell side it compares trade-in against a private sale, including the tax saving from trading in where your jurisdiction allows it.
Each country tab loads the inputs that actually matter where you live: a US state selector with sales tax and trade-in tax-credit rules for all 50 states plus DC, a UK VED band selector with the 2026/27 first-year rates and the £440 expensive car supplement, a Canada province selector with separate dealer and private tax rates, an Australia state selector with stamp duty and the ATO Luxury Car Tax, and New Zealand licensing and Road User Charges. Loan math uses a standard amortization formula — the same one your bank uses — with an editable interest rate so you can match your actual quote.
These are planning estimates, not financial or tax advice. Tax rates, registration fees, and thresholds change annually and vary by jurisdiction and individual circumstance. Always confirm current figures with your local motor-vehicle authority, tax office, or lender before signing anything. The "Last updated" date on every page shows when the data was last verified.
Each country taxes car purchases differently — sales tax, VAT, GST, stamp duty, VED, or nothing at all — and each has its own trade-in rules. Pick a country for a dedicated page with a pre-filled calculator, a full guide, and country-specific FAQs.
CarEarn calculates the true total cost of buying a car — monthly loan payment, sales tax / VAT / GST, stamp duty, registration, and a true first-year ownership cost — and compares trade-in vs private sale net proceeds when selling. It covers the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand in one place.
Using the standard amortization formula your bank uses: the amount financed (price minus down payment and trade-in) multiplied by the monthly interest rate, divided by one minus (one plus the monthly rate) to the power of minus the loan term in months. The interest rate is editable, so enter the APR from your actual pre-approval or dealer quote for an accurate figure.
Because each country taxes car purchases differently. The US charges state sales tax (statewide rates from 0% to 7.25%, and some states add local tax on top); the UK charges VED road tax and includes 20% VAT in new dealer prices; Canada charges GST/PST/HST by province with separate dealer and private rates; Australia charges state stamp duty plus a federal Luxury Car Tax; and New Zealand charges no purchase tax at all but adds licensing (rego) and Road User Charges. Each country tab loads the correct inputs.
It depends on your jurisdiction. Selling privately usually nets a higher price, but in most US states and Canadian provinces a trade-in reduces the sales tax on your replacement purchase — a real saving that narrows the gap. The UK, Australia, and New Zealand do not offer this tax credit, so there the comparison is purely price versus convenience. The selling-mode calculator quantifies it for your location.
Yes — all tax rates, registration fees, and thresholds use publicly available 2026 figures, including the ATO Luxury Car Tax thresholds for FY2026-27 ($91,661 fuel-efficient / $80,809 other) and UK VED 2026/27 with the £440 expensive car supplement. Rates change annually, so re-check each year. The "Last updated" date on every page shows when the data was last verified.
No. It provides planning estimates using publicly available rates and a standard loan formula. Your actual payment, tax, and fees depend on your lender, credit, local surcharges, and vehicle specifics. Confirm figures with your lender and local motor-vehicle authority before buying or selling.
Your estimate uses the standard amortization formula for the monthly loan payment and each country's official 2026 tax, duty, and registration rules for the buy side, then compares trade-in against private-sale proceeds on the sell side. Every rate is editable so you can match your actual quote.