Vehicle Ownership Cost Calculator

Calculate your true driving costs

Vehicle Details

Enter your vehicle information below. All fields are required to calculate accurate ownership costs.

The price you paid or will pay for the vehicle
Manufacturing year of the vehicle
How long you plan to own this vehicle
Average annual distance driven

Optional Overrides

Leave blank to use calculated/sourced values

Leave blank for estimated value
Current fuel price (if known)
Leave blank for estimated value
Leave blank for estimated value
Leave blank for estimated value

Frequently Asked Questions

Our vehicle ownership cost calculator determines the total cost of vehicle ownership by including all major expenses: fuel costs, annual maintenance and repairs, insurance premiums, and vehicle depreciation. We divide the total ownership cost by the total kilometers driven over the ownership period to calculate the cost per kilometer. This gives you a comprehensive view of your true driving costs.

Total cost of ownership (TCO) includes four main categories: Fuel costs (gasoline, diesel, or electricity), Maintenance and repairs (routine service, parts, and unexpected repairs), Insurance (annual premiums), and Depreciation (the loss in vehicle value over time). Our calculator automatically estimates these values based on your vehicle's age, price, and usage, but you can override any values with your own data for more accurate results.

The accuracy depends on how much information you provide. Our calculator uses industry-standard formulas and average costs to estimate fuel economy, maintenance, insurance, and depreciation rates. For the most accurate results, we recommend entering your actual fuel costs, known maintenance expenses, and insurance quotes when available. The calculator becomes more precise as you override the auto-calculated values with your real-world data.

Yes! Click the "Compare Vehicles" button to switch to comparison mode. You can enter details for two different vehicles and see their costs side-by-side. The comparison view shows cost per kilometer, total ownership costs, annual costs, and detailed year-by-year breakdowns for both vehicles, making it easy to determine which car is cheaper to own over time.

Vehicle depreciation is calculated based on the vehicle's age and follows industry-standard depreciation rates. New vehicles (year 0) depreciate approximately 20% in the first year, 15% in year 2, and then 12% annually for years 3-4. Older vehicles (5-9 years) depreciate at 10% per year, and vehicles over 10 years depreciate at 8% annually. You can override the depreciation rate with your own percentage if you have specific data about your vehicle's expected value retention.

Yes! Our vehicle ownership cost calculator supports electric vehicles. When you select "Electric" as the fuel type, the calculator automatically adjusts to use kWh/100km instead of L/100km for fuel economy, and accounts for electricity costs. The calculator also recognizes that electric vehicles typically have lower maintenance costs (about 40% less) but higher insurance premiums (about 15% more) compared to gas or diesel vehicles.

Cost per kilometer shows the ownership cost for each individual kilometer driven. Cost per 100 km multiplies that value by 100, giving you the cost for a typical trip distance. Both metrics are useful: cost per km helps you understand the incremental cost of driving, while cost per 100 km is easier to visualize for longer trips and is commonly used in vehicle efficiency comparisons.

The cost to drive per km varies significantly based on your vehicle type, age, fuel efficiency, and driving habits. Our vehicle ownership cost calculator helps you determine this by calculating the total cost of owning a car divided by the total kilometers driven. This includes fuel costs, maintenance expenses, insurance premiums, and vehicle depreciation. For most vehicles, the cost per km typically ranges from $0.20 to $0.80, but can be higher for luxury vehicles or lower for efficient electric cars.

The true cost of owning a car goes far beyond the purchase price. Our calculator helps you understand the complete picture by including: Annual fuel costs based on your driving distance and fuel economy, Maintenance and repair expenses that increase as your vehicle ages, Insurance premiums that vary by vehicle value and type, and Depreciation - the loss in vehicle value over time. The annual vehicle cost can range from $3,000 to $15,000+ depending on the vehicle, with the total cost of ownership often exceeding the original purchase price over 5-10 years.

To calculate vehicle operating costs, you need to account for all expenses related to running and maintaining your vehicle. Our calculator simplifies this process by automatically estimating: Fuel costs (gasoline, diesel, or electricity) based on your annual kilometers and fuel economy, Maintenance costs including routine service, oil changes, tire replacements, and unexpected repairs, Insurance costs for comprehensive and collision coverage, and Depreciation which represents the vehicle's loss in value. Simply enter your vehicle details and our calculator will compute your annual vehicle cost and cost per kilometer automatically.

Car maintenance costs are calculated based on several factors: your vehicle's purchase price, age, and annual kilometers driven. Our calculator uses industry-standard formulas that estimate maintenance at approximately 2-4% of the vehicle's value annually for newer vehicles, increasing to 4-6% for older vehicles. Electric vehicles typically have 40% lower maintenance costs due to fewer moving parts. You can override the auto-calculated maintenance cost with your actual annual maintenance expenses if you have service records or estimates from your mechanic.

Vehicle insurance costs are estimated based on your vehicle's current value, age, and type. Our calculator uses average insurance rates that typically range from 2-4% of the vehicle's value annually. Newer and more expensive vehicles generally have higher insurance premiums, while older vehicles cost less to insure. Electric vehicles typically have insurance costs about 15% higher than comparable gas vehicles due to higher repair costs. For the most accurate insurance cost calculation, enter your actual annual insurance premium in the override field.