30-yr fixed 6.43% ▾ 0.06 wk
15-yr fixed 5.79% ▾ 0.04 wk
HELOC avg 7.90% — no change
Auto 60-mo new 6.82% ▴ +0.03 mo
Personal 24-mo 11.57% ▾ 0.12 qtr
Credit card APR 21.52% ▴ +0.09 qtr
as of Jul 2, 2026 · Federal Reserve / Freddie Mac via FRED (St. Louis Fed)
Auto Calculators

Home Equity Loan vs. Auto loan Calculator

A home equity loan can carry a lower rate than an auto loan, but usually a longer term — and it puts your home on the line. Compare the real cost of each.

Inputs
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Estimates only. Change any value to recalculate instantly.

Less total interest Auto loan by $7,610 over the life of the loan
Auto loan payment $601.14
Auto total interest $6,068
Home equity payment $363.98
Home equity interest $13,678
Total interest compared
Total interest compared Auto loan: $6.1kHome equity loan: $14k
  • Auto loan $6.1k
  • Home equity loan $14k
Loan balance Auto loanHome equity loan
Loan balance: Auto loan vs Home equity loan $53k$40k$26k$13k$0 Yr 1Yr 3Yr 5Yr 7Yr 9

A home equity loan's lower payment can be tempting, but a longer term often means more total interest — and the loan is secured by your home. Interest on a home equity loan used to buy a car is generally not tax-deductible.

Balance by yearView table
YearAuto loan balanceHome equity balance
1$24,862$27,958
2$19,325$25,747
3$13,359$23,353
4$6,929$20,760
5$0$17,951
6$0$14,909
7$0$11,615
8$0$8,048
9$0$4,184
10$0$0

How this calculator works

This calculator runs entirely in your browser — nothing you enter is sent anywhere, and there is no sign-up. Change any input and the result, breakdown, and schedule update instantly.

Rate and cost fields are pre-filled with current benchmarks (Federal Reserve / Freddie Mac via FRED (St. Louis Fed)), so your first result is already realistic — replace them with your own quote to see your numbers. To weigh one option against another, use the loan comparison calculator.

Common questions

Is this calculator free, and do I need to sign up?

Yes and no — it is completely free and asks for no account or personal details. Every calculation happens in your browser, so nothing you type is stored or sent to us.

How accurate are the results?

The math is exact for the inputs you give it, but the defaults are national benchmarks — your real rate, fees, taxes, and insurance will differ. Treat the result as a close estimate to refine with a real quote.