Car Finance Calculator

Vehicle finance in South Africa often comes with a balloon (residual) payment: a lump sum due at the end that lowers your monthly instalment. This calculator shows the monthly payment and how much the balloon adds to the total cost.

How this calculator works

• Financed amount = vehicle price − deposit.
• A balloon of 10–40% of the price is common. You still pay interest on it for the whole term.
• Terms are usually 48 to 72 months.

Worked example

R350,000 car, R35,000 deposit, 72 months at 13% with a 30% balloon (R105,000) comes to about R5,350 a month, with R105,000 still due at the end.

FAQs

Is a balloon payment a good idea?

It makes the monthly instalment easier, but you pay more interest overall and must settle or refinance the balloon at the end. Many people end up refinancing a car worth less than the balloon.