Budget Beavers

Car Finance Calculators 8 tools

Everything dealers don't want you to calculate — depreciation, true monthly cost, EV rebates, and the 84-month trap.

$1,902 true monthly cost on a
$40k car (you budgeted $544)
1 in 3 Canadian trade-ins carry
negative equity
63% 5-yr EV depreciation
(Nissan LEAF)
$2B auto repair fraud
cost to Canadians / yr

Pick your calculator

Most eye-opening
The Real Cost of Your Car
Your $544/mo payment actually costs $1,902/mo.
Depreciation, insurance, fuel, and maintenance added together — the all-in number dealers never show you.
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Fix or Scrap?
Should you pay for the repair or cut your losses?
Break-even analysis: the cost of fixing vs replacing, month by month. Includes the 50% rule and mechanic questions to ask.
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Canada-specific
EV vs Gas Canada
Does an EV make financial sense in YOUR province?
Canadian rebates (EVAP 2026), your electricity rate, your housing type — condo owners get a very different answer than house owners.
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Underwater Car Loan
Am I underwater — and when do I break even?
See your loan balance vs your car's value month by month. Know exactly when you can trade in without rolling debt.
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Buy vs Lease vs Cash
True 5-year cost including depreciation and opportunity cost.
The monthly payment is a trap. See the real total cost of all three options — including what the cash buyer forfeits.
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Dealer Fee Decoder
Which fees are mandatory, which are pure profit?
Decode your purchase order line by line — plus the exact script to say in the F&I room to push back on junk fees.
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Lease Buyout Decision Tool
Buy out, return + lease new, or return + buy used?
Three-path comparison with an equity check and a chart — including the "buy out then resell" strategy dealers won't mention.
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Mechanic Quote Benchmarker
Is this repair quote fair, or are you being overcharged?
Compare any quote against typical Canadian repair costs by province, with red flags to watch for.
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Cars are liabilities, not investments.

The average new car loses 20–25% of its value in the first year. By year five, it's worth 40–50% of what you paid. Meanwhile, the average Canadian car payment is $916/mo — before insurance, fuel, or maintenance. The real all-in cost? $1,500–$1,900/month, depending on your car.

None of this is hidden. It's just never shown to you in one place — certainly not by a dealer who profits when you focus on the monthly payment instead of the total cost. These calculators do what dealers won't: show you the full picture.

All calculations for informational purposes only. Not financial advice. Depreciation estimates use average Canadian market data from Canadian Black Book. EV rebate figures sourced from Transport Canada EVAP 2026 and provincial programs — verify eligibility before purchase.

Also useful when buying a car

Budget calculator — can you actually afford this? Emergency fund — for the repair you didn't budget for What you'd have if you invested instead Net worth — does this car fit your financial picture?