# Figure out how much car I can afford and its true monthly cost

A realistic car budget including payment, insurance, fuel, and upkeep, plus a comparison of new, used, and leasing.

- Topic: Personal Life & Wellbeing
- Framework: RTF
- Level: Standard
- Tags: Fill-in Template
- Source: https://www.thinkwithprompt.com/prompts/figure-out-how-much-car-i-can-afford-and-its-true-monthly-cost

## Prompt

```text
Help me work out how much I can afford to spend on a car and what it will really cost each month.

**Monthly take-home income:** [AMOUNT]
**Current monthly costs and debts:** [rent, loans, other payments]
**Savings available for a down payment:** [AMOUNT]
**How I'll use the car:** [miles per week, commute, family, road trips]
**Options I'm considering:** [e.g. "used compact under 5 years old", "new hybrid", "lease"]
**Quotes I have:** [car prices, loan rates and terms, insurance quotes - or "none yet"]
**Trade-in or current car:** [DETAILS, or "none"]

Give me:
1. A total monthly cost table for each option: loan or lease payment, insurance, fuel or charging, maintenance, registration and taxes, parking - using my quotes and marking unknowns [GET QUOTE].
2. An affordability check against my income and other debts, with a common rule of thumb explained (and why it's only a guide).
3. Total cost over the time I'd likely keep the car, not just the monthly payment.
4. New vs. used vs. lease trade-offs for how I'll use it.
5. Financing tips: get pre-approved before visiting a dealer, compare the full loan cost, watch for long loan terms and add-ons.
6. A short checklist for buying used: history report, independent inspection, test drive.

Don't invent prices or interest rates. This is general information to help me decide.
```

## What to fill in

- AMOUNT
- rent, loans, other payments
- miles per week, commute, family, road trips
- e.g. "used compact under 5 years old", "new hybrid", "lease"
- DETAILS, or "none"
- GET QUOTE

Free to copy and use. From ThinkWithPrompt (https://www.thinkwithprompt.com/), a library of 2,663 curated AI prompts.