See how it works
Car goal calculator
Find out how much to invest to buy your car without a loan.
Change a number and watch what happens. This is a teaching tool: the answer is an illustration, not a promise.
How it works, with an example
Ravi's story
Meet Ravi. He wants to buy a 12 lakh car in 4 years.
But there is a catch. Car prices rise every year (inflation). In 4 years the same car costs ₹15,14,972.
So Ravi starts a SIP of ₹25,799 every month. If he has a lump of money instead, ₹10,34,747 once today (lumpsum) does the same job.
Ravi's money grows about 10% a year, and earns about ₹2,76,628 extra, so no loan is needed.
Now it is your turn. Change the numbers below to see your own plan.
- Ravi puts in
- ₹12,38,344
- His money earns
- ₹2,76,628
- Worth at the end
- ₹15,14,972
Your answer
To buy a car that costs ₹12,00,000 today, in 2030 (it will cost ₹15,14,972), invest:
Every month (SIP)
₹25,799
for 4 years
Worked out at an assumed return of 10% a year
- Price today
- ₹12,00,000
- Time to go
- 4 years
- Price rise
- 6% a year
- Assumed return
- 10% a year
How much you gain with the monthly plan
- Total you invest₹12,38,344
- Profit you earn₹2,76,628
| After | Total invested | Total value |
|---|---|---|
| 1 year | ₹3,09,586 | ₹3,24,177 |
| 2 years | ₹6,19,172 | ₹6,82,300 |
| 3 years | ₹9,28,758 | ₹10,77,923 |
| 4 years | ₹12,38,344 | ₹15,14,972 |
Start 1 year late and you will need ₹36,259 a month, which is ₹10,460 more. Starting early costs less.
Illustration only. Mutual fund investments are subject to market risks, read all scheme related documents carefully. Past performance is not indicative of future returns.
Want to talk it through?
Free. 30 minutes. No obligation. No pressure to invest. Your result goes into the message.
You see the message first, and can change it. Gunasekaran replies Mon–Sat, 10:00–18:00 IST.
The answer updates as you type. Open the report to see the full plan and download it as a PDF. The result is an illustration, not a promise.
Your numbers
Cars get costlier every year. Usually 5% to 7%.
A made-up rate for illustration, not a forecast. Real returns can be lower, or negative.
We assume it grows at the same return.
Common questions
A SIP means you put a fixed amount into a mutual fund on the same date every month. A mutual fund is a pot of money from many people, invested by experts. In the example, Ravi invests ₹25,799 every month for 4 years.
Choose every month (SIP) if you earn a monthly income and do not have a big amount ready. Choose once today (lumpsum) if you already have ₹10,34,747 to spare and can leave it untouched for 4 years. Both plans aim for the same ₹15,14,972.
Prices of most things go up every year, and this is called inflation. Here, the price rises 6% each year, so something that costs ₹12,00,000 today costs about ₹15,14,972 in 4 years. The calculator plans for that higher price.
Enter a yearly growth rate to see an illustration. The rate is an assumption, not a forecast, and real returns can be lower or negative. The calculator stops at 12% because a very high return is risky to rely on; try a lower number too, to see a more cautious case.
No. Mutual fund returns are not guaranteed, and the value of your investment can go up or down with the market. Read all scheme related documents carefully and consider your own situation before you invest.
Invest what you can and add more when you can. A smaller amount means you may fall short of ₹15,14,972, so you can give yourself more years, pick a cheaper car, or invest a larger amount later. Change the numbers above to see the effect.