Why we built klearterms

We've all been there. You're at the dealership, the salesperson is running numbers, and suddenly you're staring at a sheet full of figures that don't quite add up in your head. The monthly payment looks manageable, but something feels off.

That's because car deals are designed to focus you on one number: the monthly payment.

And while that number matters, it's not the whole story. A lower monthly payment often means a longer loan term, which means a larger finance charge, which means the total you commit to can be a long way from the monthly figure you agreed.

We're not here to tell you what to do

klearterms isn't about judging your car purchase or scaring you out of a deal. We built this because we believe you deserve to see the full picture before you sign anything.

Our goal is simple: take the confusing numbers on your loan paperwork and turn them into something you can actually understand. Today that means the federal Truth in Lending box and nothing else. From the six figures it discloses, we show you:

• The total of payments — what you are committed to across the whole term
• The finance charge — the disclosed cost of the credit
• Your APR against a dated benchmark for your credit tier, the car's condition and the term
• The payment measured against the disposable income you enter
• Whether the finance charge and the total of payments add up against the amount financed and the term. We can't re-derive the APR from the other figures, so that one is compared, not checked

What we don't do yet, and don't claim to: read the buyer's order, itemize dealer add-ons, price the vehicle, or track what the car will be worth against what you owe.

Your decision, your call

We're not financial advisors, and we're not here to make decisions for you. Only you know your situation, your needs, and what's right for your life.

We're just here to make sure you have all the information you need to make that decision with confidence.

That's it. No dealer or lender pays us anything. You pay us, and that is the entire business.