Truck Payment Calculator
Price, down payment, rate and term — see the monthly payment, the total interest, and what the truck really costs by the last payment.
How this calculator works
Amount financed = price − down payment.
Monthly payment uses the standard amortization formula: P × r ÷ (1 − (1 + r)−n), where r is the monthly rate (APR ÷ 12) and n the number of months.
Total interest is what financing itself costs you — worth staring at before stretching the term: going from 48 to 72 months drops the payment but can nearly double the interest paid.
Rule of thumb many owner-operators use: the payment should stay under 25% of your average monthly gross, or one soft freight month starts a hole that is hard to climb out of.
Frequently asked questions
What credit terms are typical for a semi truck loan in 2026?
Established owner-operators with good credit see roughly 7–12% APR over 48–60 months. First-time buyers or bruised credit can land in the 15–25% range, often with a bigger down payment required. Used trucks usually price 2–4 points above new.
How much should I put down on a truck?
Lenders commonly want 10–25% down. Beyond approval, a bigger down payment protects you from being upside-down: trucks depreciate fast, and owing more than the truck is worth traps you if freight softens and you need out.
Is the payment the real cost of the truck?
No — the payment is just the financing. Add insurance, maintenance, tires and permits, and a $2,800 payment truck really costs $5,000+ a month to keep on the road. Run your full numbers in the cost per mile calculator.
Lease or buy?
A loan builds equity and usually costs less in total; a lease keeps payments and the walk-away option flexible. Be careful with lease-purchase programs tied to one carrier — the effective interest rate is often far above bank financing when you do this math on it.