S$120,000 Car Loan in Singapore: Instalments, Interest and EIR
Borrowing S$120,000 for a car at 2.78% flat over seven years means S$1,706.57 a month and S$23,352.00 in total interest. The effective interest rate is about 5.19%.
Instalments by tenure
| Tenure | Monthly at 2.78% | Total interest |
|---|---|---|
| 3 years | S$3,611.33 | S$10,008.00 |
| 4 years | S$2,778.00 | S$13,344.00 |
| 5 years | S$2,278.00 | S$16,680.00 |
| 6 years | S$1,944.67 | S$20,016.00 |
| 7 years | S$1,706.57 | S$23,352.00 |
How much car does this loan buy?
MAS caps car loans at 70% of the price for cars with OMV up to S$20,000, and 60% above that. A S$120,000 loan therefore supports a car price of up to S$171,428.57 (OMV ≤ S$20,000) or S$200,000.00 (higher OMV), with the rest paid as a downpayment.
Before you sign
- Car loans are capped at seven years, and interest is charged on the original amount for the whole term.
- Factor in inflation when you plan for goals that are many years away.
- Paying credit card bills in full avoids interest charges of around 27% a year or more.
- Compare loans by effective interest rate, not flat rate; the EIR is roughly double the flat rate.
Background
Cars in Singapore carry costs found almost nowhere else, including the Certificate of Entitlement and the Additional Registration Fee. Loans are capped at 60% or 70% of the price depending on the car's Open Market Value, and the maximum tenure is seven years.
Interest in Singapore is quoted in several ways. Mortgages and savings accounts use effective annual rates, while car loans and many personal loans are advertised at flat rates that look much lower than their true cost. Banks must disclose the effective interest rate, and comparing on that basis gives a fair picture.
Calculators make it easy to compare scenarios side by side: a shorter tenure versus a lower instalment, a higher deposit versus more cash in hand, or paying down debt versus investing. Seeing the total cost, not just the monthly figure, usually makes the better choice obvious.
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- Car Loan Calculator: Car loans in Singapore are quoted at a flat rate.
Compare rates and tenures in the S$120,000 Car Loan Repayment Calculator.
Run your own numbers: S$120,000 Car Loan Repayment Calculator