Yes
- Parent helping a 17–25-year-old buy a first car
- Student who wants someone to do the math honestly
- Anyone in 85248 / 85249 / 85286 (or the rest of the East Valley)
Your kid's first car, without wrecking your credit.
A free, math-first audit for Chandler families with HS or college kids. Twenty minutes, no upsell, no obligation.
Book my free auditClarence · Chandler, AZ · 20/4/10 rule · No-BS Student Car Audit
The 20/4/10 rule
20
Percent of income cap
Total monthly cost (payment + insurance + gas) under 20% of gross monthly income.
4
Years max term
Loan term capped at 48 months. No 72- or 84-month traps.
10
Percent down minimum
At least 10% down. Don't drive off underwater.
If the deal fails any of the three, the deal fails. Math first, every time.
Run your kid's numbers
Drag the sliders. The math updates live. Insurance and gas baked in for Arizona under-25 drivers.
Quick Estimate: minimal inputs, conservative defaults, lower confidence.
A few more details sharpen the estimate and the insurance discount picture.
Max out-the-door price: --
Your safe monthly transport budget (20% of gross): --
This is your maximum — the safe ceiling for loan + insurance + gas combined, not a projected payment on any one car. Pick options to see what specific cars actually cost per month.
Move the sliders to see your numbers.
Your options
Three vehicles that pass the math, ranked by best financial fit.
How these options are sourced. Vehicles shown are aggregated from AutoNation rooftops in the east Valley (Chandler, Tempe, Gilbert). The advisor behind AZ Student Car Guide is an AutoNation employee; the 20/4/10 guidance here is brand-independent and exists to protect you as the buyer — not to push any one car.
What you get from the free audit
- The maximum out-the-door price that fits your kid's actual income.
- The maximum monthly payment with insurance and gas baked in.
- Three to five real cars (from any dealership) that pass the test.
- A list of fees and add-ons to refuse at signing.
- An honest answer if the right move is to wait.
Who this is for — and who it's not for
No
- Anyone shopping a luxury or performance car
- Anyone who wants a 72-month loan to "lower the payment"
- Anyone looking for a cosigner workaround