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Negative Equity Impact Calculator

See how owing more on your trade-in than it is worth could affect your next car loan.

START HEREStart with what you know.AutoUnite will only ask for the details this estimate needs.
Question 1 of 6

YOUR VEHICLE

Which cars are you comparing?

We'll use available vehicle details to help with this estimate.
Trade vehicle

Step 1 of 4: Choose a year.

Replacement vehicle

Step 1 of 4: Choose a year.

Looking for a specific car at a dealership?See cars for salePrices, financing or lease terms, taxes, fees, and offers still need to be confirmed.
YOUR ESTIMATEYour estimate will appear here

Answer a few questions to see your estimate. Anything still unknown will stay clearly labeled.

Estimate only. Rolling negative equity is not a recommendation. Purchase price, trade value, payoff, APR, term, down payment, taxes, fees, and depreciation are never invented. Disclosures · Help

Close calculator guide

UNDERSTAND THE ESTIMATE

How the Negative Equity Impact Calculator works

When a trade-in payoff is higher than the trade value, the difference can be rolled into the next loan. This calculator isolates that rollover so you can see its effect on amount financed, payment, interest, and loan-to-value without presenting rollover as a recommendation.

What you need to get started

This calculator uses the following inputs to build an estimate. Check your own agreement or quote when a rate, fee, or contract value is required.

  • New Vehicle Price
  • Trade Value
  • Trade Payoff
  • APR %
  • Loan Term (months)

You can also refine your scenario with information such as Down Payment, Dealer Fees, Tax Amount $, Tax Rate %, Annual Depreciation % for Equity Timeline, Equity Projection (months). Enter details only when known; an unknown fee, rate, or benefit is not automatically zero.

How the estimate is built

  1. Enter the vehicle purchase price, trade value, and current trade payoff.
  2. Enter the APR and term for the new-loan scenario.
  3. Optionally add down payment, taxes, dealer fees, or a depreciation assumption under Advanced.
  4. Compare financing with and without the negative-equity rollover and review the optional future-equity timeline only when its inputs are provided.

Example

If a trade is worth $12,000 with a $16,000 payoff, the $4,000 shortfall can be modeled separately from the new vehicle price. AutoUnite then shows how that additional financed amount changes payment and loan-to-value.

Common negative equity rollover questions

What is negative equity?

Negative equity exists when the payoff on the trade-in is greater than the trade value used in the scenario.

Does AutoUnite recommend rolling negative equity into another loan?

No. The calculator shows the financing impact without recommending rollover or any other transaction structure.

Does the calculator use the new vehicle listing price as my trade value?

No. Purchase price and trade value are separate inputs and are never treated as the same number.

Can I include taxes, fees, and a down payment?

Yes. They are optional advanced inputs and remain outside the calculation until you enter or source them.

How is the future equity timeline calculated?

Only when you provide both a depreciation assumption and a projection period. AutoUnite does not apply a generic depreciation curve.