Finding Your Next Car Just Got Easier
Here’s everything you need to make car shopping simpler, including how to determine your budget, the best cars for your budget, and how to get the best price on your new or used vehicle.
What's Your Budget?
The first step to finding the right car is determining what you can comfortably spend. Use the calculator below to find out!
Car Affordability Calculator
Enter your monthly payment, credit range, and loan term to see how much you can afford to spend on a car.
Best Cars For Your Budget
Here at FIXD, we’ve scanned over 30 million vehicles for check engine lights. Below, you’ll find the BEST cars your money can buy, based on your salary and budget. Our recommendations are based not only only on price, but also: Reliability data, safety, and owner surveys. Take a look at the different salary ranges below to see our recommendations for your budget, what your monthly payment would be, and how much money you need to save up for a down payment.
What car can I afford with $30K salary?
OUR ADVICE
Your monthly car payment: Up to $333
Your down payment: $2,700
Best cars to buy on a $30,000 salary
Best SUVs to buy on a $30,000 salary
Best trucks to buy on a $30,000 salary
- Toyota Tacoma
- Toyota Tundra
- Chevrolet Silverado
- Ford F-150
What car can I afford on $40K salary?
OUR ADVICE
Your monthly car payment: Up to $333
Your down payment: $3,598
Best cars to buy on a $40,000 salary
Best SUVs to buy on a $40,000 salary
Best trucks to buy on a $40,000 salary
What car can I afford with $50K salary?
If you earn $50,000 per year and have 20% saved up for a down payment, the upper limit of your car budget should be around $21,600. Using the 20/4/10 rule, you should keep your monthly car payment to no more than $416, which means you have plenty of choices for used cars, and the option to buy new.
OUR ADVICE
Your monthly car payment: Up to $416
Your down payment: $4,320
Best cars to buy on a $50,000 salary
Best SUVs to buy on a $50,000 salary
Best trucks to buy on a $50,000 salary
How much car can I afford on a $60K salary?
OUR ADVICE
Your monthly car payment: Up to $500
Your down payment: $5,210
Best cars to buy on a $60,000 salary
Best SUVs to buy on a $60,000 salary
Best trucks to buy on a $60,000 salary
How much car can I afford on $70K a year?
OUR ADVICE
Your monthly car payment: Up to $583
Your down payment: $5,063
Best cars to buy on a $70,000 salary
Best SUVs to buy on a $70,000 salary
Best trucks to buy on a $70,000 salary
What price car can I afford if I make $80,000?
OUR ADVICE
Your monthly car payment: Up to $666
Your down payment: $5,785
Best cars to buy on a $80,000 salary
- Honda Civic
- Honda Accord
- Toyota Camry
- Hyundai Sonata
- Subaru Legacy
- Ford Fusion
Best SUVs to buy
on a $80,000 salary
- Kia Carnival
- Subaru Outback
- Ford Escape
- Kia Niro Hybrid
- Subaru Forester
Best trucks to buy on a $80,000 salary
- Hyundai Santa Cruz
- Ford F-150
- Nissan Frontier
- Dodge Ram
- Toyota Tundra
How much car can I afford if I make $100K?
With a salary of $100,000, you’re looking at a lot of different car options. But, just because you can afford to spend more on a car doesn’t mean you necessarily should. Be conservative and stick to the 20/4/10 rule to make sure you don’t overspend. Try and keep your car payment to less than $833 per month, and aim to buy a car that costs under $43,400.
OUR ADVICE
Your monthly car payment: Up to $833
Your down payment: $8,680
Best cars to buy on a $100,000 salary
- Kia Stinger
- Volkswagen Golf GTI
- Volvo S60
- Hyundai Sonata Hybrid
- Toyota Avalon
Best SUVs to buy on a $100,000 salary
- Ford Bronco
- Kia Telluride
- Nissan Frontier
- Ford Explorer
- Jeep Grand Cherokee
Best trucks to buy on a $100,000 salary
- Dodge Ram 1500
- Ford F-150
- Toyota Tundra
- Honda Ridgeline
- Chevrolet Silverado
Tips for Finding a Car You Can Afford
Finding a car you love that you can also afford may take some patience. You can use these tips to help get a good car at a fair price, and to ensure you’re buying within your budget.
- Buy used
- Explore inventories of online car dealers, like Carvana
- Do your research
- Shop around for the best loan rates
- Be flexible and avoid getting attached to one car
- Exercise patience and steer clear of making an emotional decision
How Much Car Can I Afford: FAQs
How much car do I qualify for?
To determine how much money you can borrow for your car purchase, you’ll have to speak to a lender who will review your finances and credit score. Try getting quotes from multiple lenders to review your options and make sure you’re getting the best possible deal.
Where can I buy car insurance?
If you’re buying a car, you can choose from any number of insurance companies. There are large, traditional insurance companies like State Farm, Geico, Progressive, and Allstate, as well as newer insurance companies who focus on insurance solutions through technology, like Jerry and Lemonade. Click here to compare quotes and find the best rate on car insurance.
How much car can I afford based on salary?
There are different rules about how much of your income should go to your car payment. As a general rule, you should aim to spend no more than 10% of your income on your car payment.
Should I lease, buy new, or buy used?
Leasing, buying used, and buying new all come with their own advantages and disadvantages. If you choose to lease a new car versus buying new, your monthly payment may be less than if you were to outright buy the same vehicle. However, at the end of your lease term, you will not be closer to actually owning that vehicle. Similarly, if you buy used, you may be able to use the same payment to buy a car that has a much higher retail price then the new car you could afford. However, a used car won’t have the same warranties and may have higher maintenance and repair costs. To read more about what you can afford, and if you should lease, buy new, or buy used, check out this article.
Why should I not buy a car?
You shouldn’t buy a car if you don’t need one or can’t afford one. For example, if you can get around by walking and using public transportation, buying a car probably doesn’t make sense. Another example of when not to buy a car is if you can’t afford the payments, since the last thing you’d want is to default (i.e., fail to make payments) on your car loan. Alternatively, here are some red flags it’s time to replace your current vehicle.
What is a good price for a first car?
Everyone’s different, which is why there’s no right price for a first car. If you’re looking for a range, many people’s first car costs between $5,000 and $15,000. Ultimately, your first car should be one that fits your car budget, which means it costs less than 10% of your monthly income.
Shop Great Deals
Now that you have a good idea of what you can spend, let’s help you get the best deal possible on a reliable used car! We’ve partnered with Carvana to help you find the right car at the right price. Click below to shop vehicles listed $1500 or more below Kelley Blue Book retail value!
Why buy from Carvana?
- Hassle-free car buying process
- 100 day Worry Free Guarantee
- Over 25,000 vehicles available
- Easy financing that fits your budget
See what you could be driving
Find The Best Car Loan For You
Compare auto loans and find the right fit for your needs. Check out our top recommendations below
Financing with Carvana makes it easy to get into the car that’s right for you. By pre-qualifying for a Carvana auto loan, you can browse over 25,000 vehicles with personalized financing terms that won’t impact your credit score. Click below to get pre-qualified in 2 minutes!
Why finance with Carvana?
- Fast and easy online process
- 100% personalized financing terms
- Get competitive rates valid for 45 days
- Won't impact your credit score
Upgrade offers personal loans up to $50,000 with low fixed rates and no prepayment fees. Click below to get started and see real offers in minutes!
Why finance with Upgrade?
- View offers in minutes without affecting your credit
- Low fixed rates
- Affordable monthly payments
- No prepayment fees
Supermoney auto loans are the smart way to finance your car. Fill out a quick form to get multiple, personalized auto loan offers in minutes!
Why finance with Supermoney?
- Single form, multiple personalized offers
- Get loans up to $100K
- Rates starting from 2.94% APR
- Checking rates won't affect your credit score
Concerned about getting a loan with your credit score? BadCreditLoans may be able to help with loans from $500-$10,000. Click below and fill out a quick survey to see if you qualify.
Why finance with BadCreditLoans?
- All credit types should apply
- 100% free service
- Request up to $10,000
- Privacy, security, & 24/7 service
- Compare offers in minutes
Sell Your Car 100% Online
Forget spending hours detailing your car, taking pics, and negotiating with strangers. Get an instant offer from Carvana and sell your car in seconds.
Why sell to Carvana?
- Get a real offer in 2 minutes
- Free pick up at your convenience
- Get paid cash on site
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