Yes
- You're 17-25, in school or working, looking at first car
- You want the math done honestly
- You're in 85248 / 85249 / 85286 or the East Valley
Don't get played on your first car.
Free, math-first audit. Twenty minutes. No jargon, no upsell, no one telling you what you can or can't afford - just the numbers, applied to your actual income.
Book my auditClarence · Chandler, AZ · 20/4/10 rule · No-BS Student Car Audit
The 20/4/10 rule
Three numbers. If your deal fails any one of them, the deal fails. No spin.
20
% 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
% down minimum
At least 10% down. Don't drive off underwater.
Run your numbers
Drag the sliders. Math updates live. Insurance and gas baked in for AZ under-25.
Quick Estimate: minimal inputs, conservative defaults, lower confidence.
A few more details sharpen the estimate and the insurance discount picture.
Max out-the-door: --
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 actually get
- 1Research
- 2Pre-approval
- 3Dealer visit
- 4Negotiation
- 5Final docs
- Max out-the-door price that fits your actual income.
- Your safe monthly ceiling, with insurance and gas baked in.
- 3-5 real cars (any dealership) that pass the test.
- Fees and add-ons to refuse at signing.
- An honest answer if waiting is the move.
This is for you if…
Not for you
- You want a luxury or performance car
- You want a 72-month loan to "lower the payment"
- You want a cosigner workaround
Your parent's going to ask about this. Send them this page - same advisor, same math, written for them.