Free Online Car Ownership Cost Calculator
Calculate monthly and per-mile ownership costs.
Annual running costs
Cost breakdown
| Cost item | Total | Per year | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enter values to see the breakdown. | |||
This calculator treats depreciation as purchase price minus resale value and spreads all costs evenly across the ownership period. Loan interest, insurance changes and major repairs can make actual costs uneven from year to year.
About the Car Ownership Cost Calculator
The sticker price of a car is only the first payment. Insurance, fuel, maintenance, repairs, taxes, parking and the loss in resale value continue for as long as you own it. This calculator combines those costs over a chosen ownership period and converts the total into a monthly figure, an annual figure and a cost per mile or kilometer. Seeing all three views makes it easier to compare a cheap older car with a newer, more efficient one and to decide whether driving, leasing or using public transport fits your budget.
Depreciation is part of the cost
The largest single item is often depreciation, the difference between what you pay and what the car is worth when you sell it. A 28,000 car that resells for 12,000 after five years has consumed 16,000 of value, or 3,200 per year, before any fuel or insurance is added. Some owners ignore this because no bill arrives, but it is real money tied up in the vehicle. The calculator includes it in the total and shows the running costs separately so you can see how much of your budget goes to simply keeping the car on the road.
Fixed and variable costs
Insurance, registration and some taxes are largely fixed. Fuel, maintenance, repairs, parking and tolls vary with distance and use. Entering annual averages produces a smooth estimate, even though real spending arrives in lumps: a set of tires one year, a timing belt the next, and nothing in a quiet year. For a more accurate picture, use service records and insurance quotes rather than generic assumptions. If you drive far more than average, the per-mile figure will fall because fixed costs are spread over more distance, but total fuel and maintenance spending will rise.
Comparing ownership options
The monthly cost is the most useful number for household budgeting, while the per-mile cost helps compare driving with transit, rideshare or a rental for occasional trips. A car that costs 0.55 per mile may still be worthwhile for a long commute, but a short urban trip can be cheaper by other means once parking is included. Run the calculation twice with different resale values, ownership lengths and annual distances to see how sensitive the result is. Small changes in resale value or insurance can shift the monthly figure significantly.
What is excluded
Loan interest, leasing fees, opportunity cost, extended warranties, fines, cleaning, accessories and the cost of breakdowns are not included unless you fold them into one of the fields. Taxes are entered as a one-time amount because sales tax and registration usually occur at purchase, but annual road taxes should be added to the yearly costs. The calculator also assumes the resale value is known in advance, which is rarely true. Treat the output as a structured estimate and update it with real quotes and records.
Frequently asked questions
Should I include the full purchase price in the total?
Yes, but the calculator subtracts the expected resale value, so only the value you actually consume is counted. If you prefer to count cash flow rather than consumption, add the resale value back and treat the result as the amount paid out over the period.
How do I estimate resale value?
Use current listings for the same make, model, year, mileage and condition, then adjust for local demand. Dealer trade-in offers are usually lower than private-party prices. If you plan to keep the car until it is worth very little, enter a low resale value and expect a higher monthly cost.
Why is my per-mile cost lower than expected?
Spreading fixed costs over many miles lowers the per-mile figure. A high annual distance increases total fuel and maintenance but reduces the fixed-cost component per mile. Compare the total annual cost as well, because a low per-mile figure can still mean a large overall outlay.