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One year of car ownership
Add 4,200 of depreciation, 1,700 of finance cost, 1,800 of insurance, 2,000 of fuel, and 1,900 of maintenance and fees. Use 15,000 kilometers driven.
Annual depreciation: 25% lower
Change annual depreciation to 3,150 while keeping the other example values the same.
Annual depreciation: 25% higher
Change annual depreciation to 5,250 while keeping the other example values the same.
Interactive chart
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Quick answer
What does the Total cost of car ownership calculate?
What does the car truly cost to keep? This calculator uses annual depreciation, annual loan interest, annual insurance, annual fuel or charging, maintenance, tax & parking, and distance driven / year to estimate true ownership cost immediately in your browser.
With the values currently entered, the result is $1,041.67 — true monthly cost. It also shows annual cost, cost by distance, and five-year cost.
How to use the Total cost of car ownership
- Replace the example values with your own numbers.
- Review the result and supporting figures as they update automatically.
- Check the formula and assumptions before using the estimate for a decision.
Inputs used
- Annual depreciation
- Annual loan interest
- Annual insurance
- Annual fuel or charging
- Maintenance, tax & parking
- Distance driven / year — entered in km
Total cost of car ownership formula
Depreciation + finance + insurance + energy + maintenance and fees
Assumptions
- Principal repayment is not a cost because it creates vehicle equity.
- Unexpected major repairs are excluded.
Practical guide
Total cost of car ownership example and edge cases
The purchase payment is only one car cost. Depreciation, insurance, fuel, repairs, and fees continue every year.
Example: One year of car ownership
Add 4,200 of depreciation, 1,700 of finance cost, 1,800 of insurance, 2,000 of fuel, and 1,900 of maintenance and fees. Use 15,000 kilometers driven.
- Annual depreciation
- 4,200
- Annual loan interest
- 1,700
- Annual insurance
- 1,800
- Annual fuel or charging
- 2,000
- Maintenance, tax & parking
- 1,900
- Distance driven / year
- 15,000 km
Calculated result$966.67true monthly cost
Use the cost per kilometer when comparing this car with transit, rideshare, or another vehicle.
Example results use the default display profile. The calculator above follows your selected country and units.
How to read the result
- Depreciation is a real cost even though no monthly bill arrives.
- Separate fixed costs from driving costs. Driving less lowers fuel and wear, but insurance and depreciation remain.
Edge cases worth checking
A large repair happens
Average unusual repairs across several ownership years. One bad year can distort the ongoing cost.
The car is already paid off
Set finance cost to zero. Keep depreciation and the opportunity cost of the car in mind.
What changes the result most
Annual depreciation
Use a current amount for annual depreciation. Include fees or recurring costs that belong in the same figure.
Annual loan interest
Test a lower and higher annual loan interest. A small percentage change can move the final result more than expected.
Annual insurance
Use a current amount for annual insurance. Include fees or recurring costs that belong in the same figure.
Try a different scenario
Small changes show whether the answer is stable or sensitive.
Annual depreciation: 25% lower
3,150$879.17true monthly cost
Annual depreciation: 25% higher
5,250$1,054.17true monthly cost
Annual loan interest: 25% higher
2,125$1,002.08true monthly cost
Common mistakes
Check annual depreciation
Principal repayment is not a cost because it creates vehicle equity. Make sure this matches the number you enter.
Keep distance driven / year consistent
Unexpected major repairs are excluded. Use the same units and time period throughout the calculation.
Do not rely on one total cost of car ownership scenario
Run a cautious case and an optimistic case. The range is often more useful than one exact-looking number.
Use this result well
What does the car truly cost to keep?
A vehicle quote, finance agreement, route, and driving conditions can change the real cost.