Trade-In Payoff Deadline Calculator
Traded in a financed car and the dealer still hasn’t paid off the old loan? Enter your purchase date to see the legal deadline under California’s 21-day rule (Vehicle Code §11709.4), how far past it your dealer is, and what every day of delay is costing you. Free, instant, and private — nothing is stored or sent.
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Enter your purchase date above to see your dealer’s legal deadline.
How this is calculated
The deadline is your contract date plus 21 days — the outer limit California Vehicle Code §11709.4 sets for a dealer to pay off the outstanding loan on a trade-in. The daily cost is simple interest on the payoff balance at your APR (balance × APR ÷ 365); your loan’s actual accrual method and any late fees will change the exact figure. If you bought in another state, the statutory deadline differs, but the contract’s payoff promise is an enforceable obligation everywhere.
Calculator FAQs
How long does a dealer have to pay off a trade-in?
In California, 21 days from the purchase under Vehicle Code Section 11709.4. Your contract may promise an earlier date — the statute is the outer limit. Other states have their own rules, and even without a statute the contract’s payoff promise is an enforceable obligation.
Is this calculator free?
Yes. It runs entirely in your browser — no signup, no card, and nothing you enter is stored or sent anywhere.
What happens after the 21 days pass?
The dealer’s statutory deadline has lapsed. In California that is an express ground for a claim against the dealer’s $50,000 surety bond (Vehicle Code Section 11711), alongside a written demand, an Attorney General complaint, and a DMV dealer complaint. Meanwhile the old loan stays open in your name, so interest and late fees keep accruing and missed payments are reported against your credit.
How accurate is the daily-cost figure?
It is simple interest on the payoff balance at the APR you enter (balance × APR ÷ 365). Your loan’s actual accrual method, late fees, and any payments you have made will change the exact number — treat it as a ballpark of what the delay costs while the loan stays open.
When would I actually pay anything?
Only if you choose to generate the demand-letter packet after the free contract analysis. The calculator itself never charges you.
This calculator provides a general estimate and information, not legal or financial advice, and does not guarantee any outcome or amount. The 21-day deadline described is California law; verify the rule for your state and your contract. Last reviewed: July 2026.