: Aim for 20% for a new car to avoid being "upside down" on your loan as it depreciates, or 10%–15% for a used car .

: Save an additional 10% of the purchase price to cover sales tax, title, registration, and dealership documentation fees.

To determine how much money you should save for a car, you must account for the , immediate closing fees , and a cushion for ongoing ownership costs . 1. The Target Savings Goal

Experts generally recommend saving enough to cover a substantial down payment and immediate "out-the-door" costs.