Estimate monthly payments on any Class 5-8 commercial truck. Adjust term, APR, down payment, trade-in, balloon, sales tax, and Section 179 to match your deal structure. The same calculator embeds on every truck listing, seeded with the vehicle's price.
Commercial heavy-truck financing follows its own playbook, distinct from passenger-auto loans. Terms run longer (36 to 84 months, with 60-72 the norm), APRs span a wider credit-tier band (7% prime to 18% subprime), and down-payment expectations depend heavily on whether the borrower is an owner-operator or a fleet. Heavy trucks with GVWR over 14,000 pounds qualify for the full Section 179 deduction, which can deliver $20,000+ in first-year federal tax savings on a $100,000 purchase at typical marginal brackets. Interstate commercial-use vehicles are often exempt from state sales tax under an IRP apportioned plate. TruckRadar's calculator bakes all of these realities into the defaults so the monthly-payment estimate reflects what you'll actually see from a commercial vehicle lender, not a consumer-auto calculator.
Est. monthly
$1,522.63
Pre-tax purchase price
$8,000
Owner-ops: 10–20% typical
Prime 7–9% · Median 9–12% · Subprime 14%+
Deducted from financed amount
Drives Federal Excise Tax (FET)
Skip if straight truck under 33k GVWR or trailer under 26k GVWR.
Off — used vehicles are exempt
$0
Often 0% for interstate commercial use
Some states cap (CA $85, NY $75)
State title + lien fee
Lowers monthly; paid as lump at term
Amount financed
$72,500
Total interest
$18,858
Total cost
$99,358
Effective / month
$1,522.63
Estimate only. Actual financing depends on credit, dealer program, and lender terms. Heavy-truck APRs typically range 7–18% depending on credit tier, vehicle age, and LTV. Interstate commercial-use purchases are often exempt from state sales tax. TruckRadar is not a lender. Consult a commercial-vehicle lender for binding quotes.
Heavy-truck financing most commonly runs 60 or 72 months. Legacy used tractors ship at 36–48 months; new-unit programs stretch to 84 months. Shorter terms lower total interest but raise monthly payments; longer terms flip that tradeoff. Owner-operators typically sit at 60; fleets negotiate 72–84 on new equipment.
Prime-credit borrowers buying new equipment see 7–9% APR; median-credit used-truck buyers typically land 9–12%; subprime and high-risk tiers run 14–18%+. Dealer-arranged financing tends to include a markup over the lender's buy rate. Credit unions and equipment-finance specialists (like BMO, Daimler Truck Financial, PACCAR Financial) often beat bank rates.
Typical ranges: owner-ops 10–20% for used trucks, fleets 15–20% for new equipment, some OEM captive-finance programs offer $0 down for credit-tier borrowers with trade-in. Higher down payment reduces monthly and often lowers the APR by getting you into a better lender tier.
For commercial-use heavy trucks (GVWR over 14,000 lbs), yes — the full purchase price up to the annual cap ($1,220,000 in 2026) can be deducted in the year placed in service. At a 24% marginal tax rate, a $100,000 truck yields roughly $24,000 in first-year federal tax savings. Consult a CPA before counting on it; eligibility depends on business use and placed-in-service timing.
A balloon (lump sum at end of term) lowers the monthly payment by shifting a chunk of principal to maturity. Common structure: 60-month term with 20–30% of the financed amount as the balloon. Useful if you plan to trade or refinance before maturity, but risky if resale values soften — you may owe more than the truck is worth.
Interstate commercial-use vehicles are often exempt from state sales tax when properly registered under an IRP (International Registration Plan) apportioned plate. Intrastate trucks typically owe full state sales tax. Rules vary by state; your dealer or registration service can confirm exemption paperwork before you close.
Federal Excise Tax (FET) is a 12% federal tax on the first retail sale of new heavy trucks (GVWR over 33,000 lbs) and new heavy trailers (GVWR over 26,000 lbs). On a $185,000 new Cascadia, FET adds about $22,200. FET is paid once per vehicle: subsequent used sales are exempt. Glider kits with 75%+ new components are taxed as new units. Straight trucks under 33,000 lbs GVWR and light trailers under 26,000 lbs are not subject to FET.