Regulated credit activity
Credit Representative 580651
UNDER ACL 383122
Car loan borrowing power calculator
What car loan could fit your income?
Enter your gross salary to estimate weekly take-home pay, then see an income-based car loan range. Refine the guide with your actual commitments before exploring lender-panel options.
2026–27 ATO tablesNo credit checkNot an approval
Step 1
Start with your income
$30,000$300,000
Use taxable salary before tax and exclude employer superannuation.
Step 2 · recommended
Refine with your actual commitments
These figures reduce the guide. They are not verified or sent until you choose to continue.
The guide reserves $100 per week for each dependant entered.
Add rent or mortgage payments and required repayments on credit cards, personal loans, BNPL and other debts. Do not include the proposed car loan.
Loan assumptionsOptional
The default 7.99% p.a. is illustrative and is not an advertised or available rate. Lender fees are excluded.
Guide—not approval
The result does not assess your credit history, verify income or expenses, apply a lender's policy, or determine whether any credit contract is suitable. Actual options may be higher, lower or unavailable.
Income-only guide shown.
Published methodology
How the guide is calculated
Every assumption is visible because a borrowing-power estimate should be explainable, repeatable and easy to challenge. The methodology is versioned so tax-table or model changes can be audited.
- Tax year
- 2026–27
- Method version
- 2026-27.1
- 01
Estimate weekly take-home pay
Gross annual salary is converted to weekly pay. We apply the Australian Taxation Office weekly PAYG withholding formula for an Australian resident who has provided a TFN and claims the tax-free threshold.
- 02
Set an income-based repayment band
The starting band is 10%–15% of estimated weekly take-home pay. This is a BaseRate modelling assumption—not a lender rule, approval threshold or personal recommendation.
- 03
Retain a living-cost buffer
When commitments are entered, the guide retains declared housing and debt costs, 35% of take-home pay for general living costs and $100 per dependant each week. It then uses no more than 50%–70% of the remaining amount.
- 04
Convert repayments to a loan range
The weekly repayment band is converted to a principal-and-interest loan amount using the selected term and illustrative annual rate. Results are rounded down to the nearest $1,000 and capped at $150,000.
Take-home-pay assumptions
- Australian resident employee with a TFN who claims the tax-free threshold.
- Uses ATO NAT 1004 Scale 2 coefficients applying from 1 July 2026. Those coefficients incorporate the Medicare levy, including the low-income phase-in.
- If selected, uses ATO NAT 3539 study and training support loan coefficients applying from 1 July 2026.
- Excludes tax offsets entered through payroll, Medicare levy exemptions or surcharge, salary packaging, bonuses, deductions, other income and unusual pay periods.
What this calculator does not do
- It is not a quote, offer, approval or lender serviceability assessment.
- It does not verify income or commitments, obtain a credit report, assess employment stability, apply lender policy or decide whether a contract is unsuitable.
- It excludes lender fees and vehicle running costs such as registration, insurance, fuel or charging, servicing, tyres and repairs.
- Actual rates, comparison rates, loan amounts and repayments may be higher, lower or unavailable. Lender criteria and responsible-lending assessment apply.
BaseRate service and remuneration
BaseRate does not charge you a fee to use our service. If a finance application introduced through BaseRate settles, the financier pays BaseRate a commission. The amount can vary between financiers and products. Financier fees, interest, credit criteria and terms may still apply.
BaseRate has access to 60+ asset-finance lenders. BaseRate does not compare every lender or finance product in the market. Lender and product availability depends on accreditation, the asset, lender criteria and your circumstances, and the panel can change.
A lender-specific comparison rate cannot be calculated from this calculator because lender fees are not included. Compare the interest rate, comparison rate, fees, total repayments and terms for any option before proceeding.
Selected lenders from our accessible asset-finance panel
The logos shown are selected examples, not a promise that every lender or product is available. BaseRate has access to 60+ asset-finance lenders. Lender and product availability varies, and BaseRate does not compare the whole market.
CONFIDENCE LAYER
Trust and Compliance
How BaseRate is paid
Commission on settled loans
FINANCIER-PAID & DISCLOSED
BaseRate lender panel
Access to 60+ asset-finance lenders
NOT THE WHOLE MARKET
Our Promise
No pressure guidance
EDUCATION BEFORE APPLICATION
DECISION TOOLS
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Borrowing-power questions
Is this the amount a lender will approve?
No. It is an income-based guide using published tax tables and disclosed BaseRate budgeting assumptions. A lender or credit representative must consider and verify your broader financial circumstances, requirements and objectives before assessing a loan.
How is estimated weekly take-home pay calculated?
The calculator converts annual salary to weekly earnings and applies the ATO PAYG withholding coefficients for the selected tax year. It assumes an Australian resident employee who claims the tax-free threshold. A study-loan component is included only when selected.
Why does adding expenses reduce the range?
Income is only one part of affordability. The refined guide retains declared housing and debt repayments, a general living-cost reserve and a dependant allowance before calculating the repayment band.
Are car running costs included?
No. Registration, insurance, fuel or charging, servicing, tyres, parking and repairs are separate from the loan repayment and should be allowed for in your own budget.
Does using the calculator affect my credit score?
No. Using the calculator and opening the guided journey does not itself submit a credit application or perform a credit check. BaseRate will explain any later application or credit-check step before it occurs.
What happens when I continue?
Your salary, selected starting amount and calculator assumptions carry into BaseRate’s guided journey. You can refine the car and finance details before deciding whether to proceed further.