Question about the 'What ifTool'

qkn958

I have a car loan with with $19,890 loan balance. My monthly payment is $378 and the interest rate is 3.99%. I am trying to figure out what is better, to pay an extra $90 monthly or pay a one time $4000. Both ways I would end up paying approximately the same amount (not including inflation). Quicken tells me that I would pay off the loan 1 year early either way but with the second option I would save more in interest. I also asked Chatgpt and it tells me that with second option I would pay it off 4 moths earlier than with the first option and also saving more in interest. Chatgpt recommends the second option (one time $4000 payment). Which option would you use?

mshiggins

One-time payment of $4000.