# What will my aircraft loan cost?

Computes the monthly payment, total interest, payoff date, and full payment schedule of a fixed-rate loan for the aircraft.

- Page: https://www.acalculator.org/finance/aircraft-loan-calculator
- JSON spec: https://www.acalculator.org/finance/aircraft-loan-calculator.json
- Version: 8eb511451bb3

## Default answer

Example with the default inputs (Price of the aircraft $250,000.00, Cash down $37,500.00, Trade-in value $0.00, Interest rate (APR) 7.5%, Loan start date October 19, 2026, Length of loan (months) 240, Sales tax rate 0%, Fees, inspection and registration $0.00, Roll tax and fees into the loan Yes, Extra each month $0.00) on the example date Monday, October 19, 2026: Borrowing $212,500.00 at 7.5% APR over 240 months costs $1,711.89 a month, with $198,352.53 of interest in total.

## Inputs

| Key | Label | Description |
| --- | --- | --- |
| price | Price of the aircraft | The price of the aircraft before tax and fees. |
| down | Cash down | The cash you pay up front, which lowers the amount you borrow. |
| trade | Trade-in value | What the dealer pays for your current vehicle. It lowers the amount you borrow and the taxed price. |
| rate | Interest rate (APR) | The yearly interest rate of the loan. The monthly rate is this divided by 12. |
| start | Loan start date | The day the loan starts. The first payment is one month later. Leave it empty to number the payments without dates. |
| term | Length of loan (months) | The number of monthly payments, from 1 to 240. |
| tax | Sales tax rate | The sales tax rate, charged on the price minus the trade-in value. |
| fees | Fees, inspection and registration | Fees and add-ons charged on top of the price, for example documentation and registration. |
| taxin | Roll tax and fees into the loan | When on, the sales tax and fees are borrowed. When off, you pay them up front. |
| extra | Extra each month | An extra amount paid with every payment. It goes straight to the balance. |

## Outputs

| Key | Label | Description |
| --- | --- | --- |
| payment | Your monthly payment | The level monthly payment that repays the loan over its length, without extra payments. |
| payments | Number of payments | How many monthly payments it takes to repay the loan, with any extra payments. |
| payoff | Paid off in | The month of the last payment, when a start date is given. |
| each | You pay each month | The monthly payment plus any extra amount. The last payment is whatever is left, so it can be smaller. |
| span | Payments last | How many months of payments it takes to repay the loan, with any extra payments. |
| amount | Loan | The amount borrowed: price minus cash down and trade-in, plus tax and fees when rolled in. |
| interest | Interest | All the interest paid over the life of the loan. |
| paid | Total you’ll repay | The amount borrowed plus all the interest. |
| upfront | Paid up front | Cash down, plus the sales tax and fees when they are not rolled into the loan. |
| cost | What the aircraft really costs | The price plus sales tax, fees, and all the interest. |
| saved | Interest saved by paying extra | The interest the extra monthly amount saves, compared with no extra payments. |
| sooner | Months saved by paying extra | How many months sooner the loan is paid off with the extra monthly amount. |

## Method

payment = L × r ÷ (1 − (1 + r)^−n), with L the amount borrowed, r the APR ÷ 12, and n the number of months; each month, interest = balance × r and the rest of the payment lowers the balance.

## Assumptions

- The rate is fixed for the whole loan and interest is charged monthly at APR ÷ 12.
- Payments are made at the end of each month, starting one month after the start date.
- Sales tax is charged on the price minus the trade-in value, as most US states do.
- Extra payments go straight to the balance; the last payment is whatever is left.
- Values are not rounded to the cent between months; only the display is rounded.

## Worked examples

1. price = $250,000.00, down = $37,500.00, trade = $0.00, rate = 7.5%, term = 240, start = 2026-10-01 gives amount = $212,500.00, payment = $1,711.89, interest = $198,352.53, payoff = 2046-10-01. Source: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, What is amortization and how could it affect my auto loan? (each fixed payment is split between interest and principal; the principal falls slowly at first, then faster). https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/what-is-amortization-and-how-could-it-affect-my-auto-loan-en-771/ (retrieved 2026-10-19).
2. price = $120,000.00, down = $24,000.00, trade = $10,000.00, rate = 8.25%, term = 180, tax = 6%, start = 2026-10-01 gives amount = $92,600.00, payment = $898.35, interest = $69,102.99, payoff = 2041-10-01. Source: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, What is amortization and how could it affect my auto loan? (each fixed payment is split between interest and principal; the principal falls slowly at first, then faster). https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/what-is-amortization-and-how-could-it-affect-my-auto-loan-en-771/ (retrieved 2026-10-19).
3. price = $60,000.00, down = $0.00, trade = $0.00, rate = 0%, term = 120, start = 2026-10-01 gives payment = $500.00, interest = $0.00, paid = $60,000.00. Source: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, What is amortization and how could it affect my auto loan? (each fixed payment is split between interest and principal; the principal falls slowly at first, then faster). https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/what-is-amortization-and-how-could-it-affect-my-auto-loan-en-771/ (retrieved 2026-10-19).

## FAQ

### How is an aircraft loan payment worked out?

It is a level monthly payment: payment = L × r ÷ (1 − (1 + r)^−n), where L is the amount borrowed, r is the APR ÷ 12 and n is the number of months. $212,500 at 7.5% over 240 months is $1,711.89 a month.

### How long can an aircraft loan be?

This calculator allows up to 240 months (20 years). Lenders set their own terms by the age and type of aircraft and the amount borrowed; type the term you are offered.

### What does the amount borrowed include?

The price minus your cash down and trade-in. Sales tax and fees are added to the loan when "Roll tax and fees into the loan" is on, or paid up front when it is off.

### Does a longer loan save money?

No. A longer loan lowers the monthly payment but adds interest. $212,500 at 7.5% costs $198,352.53 of interest over 240 months; over 120 months the payment is $2,522.41 and the interest is $90,189.51.

### Can I pay my aircraft loan off early?

Many loans let you prepay without a penalty, but some do not; your contract and state law decide. Use the extra monthly amount to see the interest and months you would save.

### How does a trade-in change the sales tax?

Most US states that tax the sale charge it on the price minus the trade-in value, so a $10,000 trade-in on a $120,000 aircraft leaves $110,000 taxed. Check your state’s rule; enter 0% where none applies.

## Sources

- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, What is amortization and how could it affect my auto loan? https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/what-is-amortization-and-how-could-it-affect-my-auto-loan-en-771/ (retrieved 2026-10-19)
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Can I prepay my loan at any time without penalty? https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/can-i-prepay-my-loan-at-any-time-without-penalty-en-843/ (retrieved 2026-10-19)