Every important number should be explainable.

CarOrPass keeps the transaction, financing and ownership pieces separate so a user can see what came from the quote, what came from the loan inputs and what is only a planning assumption.

Transaction price

When a written dealer total is entered, that number is used as the transaction total and the same fees are not added again. When a written total is not available, the tool estimates a total from the vehicle price, the simplified state base rate used by the tool and any fees entered by the user. Local taxes and transaction-specific charges can differ.

Financing

For an amortizing loan, the estimated payment is calculated from amount financed, APR and term. Total interest is scheduled payments minus principal. A zero-percent APR is treated as valid financing. If APR or term is missing, the tool does not invent a rate.

Trade equity

Trade equity is the trade value minus the current loan payoff. Positive equity reduces the amount financed. Negative equity increases the amount financed if it is carried into the transaction. The result displays these figures separately so they are not hidden inside the payment.

Ownership cost

Recurring cash ownership costs can include fuel, insurance, maintenance and registration when those inputs are provided. Depreciation is shown separately because it represents value loss rather than a payment to the dealer. A depreciation percentage is a planning assumption, not a resale guarantee.

Review flags

The result can highlight specific conditions such as add-ons, a larger-than-expected gap between vehicle price and dealer total, negative equity, higher APR or a long loan term. These are prompts to review the written numbers, not market valuations or purchase recommendations.