How much car can I afford?

See how much car you can afford based on your income, deposit and affordability preference. We estimate your monthly take-home from your salary if you don't enter it, then work out a suggested monthly payment and maximum car budget. You can also use our free UK car affordability calculator on the homepage for the same tool with salary examples and FAQs. This is an estimate only—not financial advice or a lending decision.

This calculator is for estimation only. It is not financial advice and does not represent a lending decision. Your actual affordability and car finance options in the UK depend on your circumstances and the criteria of individual UK lenders. Always check real quotes from lenders or speak to a regulated financial adviser before committing.

Many UK guides suggest keeping your monthly car finance payment within 10–15% of your net (take-home) income, and only going up to around 20% if you have few other commitments and are comfortable spending more on the car. For example, if your take-home pay is £2,000 per month, a typical safe range for the finance payment alone is roughly £200–£300 per month.

Related: by salary · finance calculator · PCP vs HP · bad credit

Reviewed by: Oliver Burton, Editor · Last updated: 08 June 2026

Your affordability result

Stretch

Recommended max monthly payment

£359

Estimated max car budget

£17,021

Estimated finance amount: £15,021
Total interest: £2,211
Total repayable: £17,232

Based on your income and 15% affordability, you could put around 359 per month towards a car. Over 48 months at the rate you entered, that supports a finance amount of about 15021. With your deposit, your total car budget is approximately 17021. This is an estimate only—actual offers depend on lender criteria.

What to do next

Compare product shapes with the PCP vs HP calculator or refine instalments in the car finance calculator.
Check salary-band examples on the affordability by salary UK hub.
Budget for upkeep — book your MOT online.
Buying used? Protect your car with a used car warranty.

Estimates only — not a lending decision or financial advice. We are not a lender or broker. FCA-regulated partners handle quotes. We may earn a commission if you follow sponsored links.

Disclaimer

Sources & notes

Our calculators and guides draw on publicly available UK guidance. We review content periodically but do not guarantee that external sources remain unchanged. See our about page for how we use these tools.

MoneyHelper – How to find the right way to buy a car
General guidance on budgeting and car finance options in the UK.
MoneyHelper – Work out your budget
Household budgeting principles used alongside affordability rules of thumb.
FCA – Consumer credit and your rights
Regulatory context for regulated car finance agreements.
FCA Handbook – CONC 5.2A (creditworthiness and affordability)
How FCA-regulated lenders must assess affordability (illustrative reference).
Black Horse – Car finance (sample lender information)
Example of how a major UK motor-finance provider describes its products.
Santander – Car finance (sample lender information)
Example lender product information; rates and criteria vary by provider.

Compliance notes

Car Affordability UK is not authorised or regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). We do not provide regulated financial advice, credit broking or lending.
Calculator outputs are illustrative estimates based on the inputs you provide and published third-party guidance. They are not quotes, offers of credit or lending decisions.
FCA-regulated lenders apply their own affordability assessments, which may differ from the percentage rules of thumb used on this site. Always check formal terms before signing any agreement.
We may earn commission if you follow links to third-party finance comparison services. This does not affect how our calculators work or how content is reviewed.