Total Car Ownership Cost Calculator
Calculate the total annual cost of owning a car — depreciation, fuel, insurance, maintenance and fees combined.
How to use the total car ownership cost calculator
- Enter expected depreciation per year — estimate based on the car's typical resale value curve.
- Enter fuel/electricity cost, insurance, maintenance and fixed fees per year.
- The total annual and monthly cost updates automatically.
Why is depreciation the biggest, often forgotten cost?
Many people think of car costs as "what I actually pay out of pocket" — fuel, insurance, service. But depreciation (the car being worth less year by year) is a real cost even though you don't pay it directly each month, since it's money you "lose" compared to if you'd kept that value in something else. For many cars, depreciation is actually the single largest line item in the total cost of ownership, especially in the first few years.
Frequently asked questions
What costs aren't included in this calculator?
Tolls, parking, tires, and any financing/interest costs if the car is loan-financed aren't included as separate line items — add them under "maintenance" or "other fees" if relevant to you.
Why should I account for depreciation when comparing cars?
Because two cars with the same purchase price can have very different depreciation — some makes and models hold their value better than others. Without accounting for depreciation, you can easily underestimate the real cost of a car that loses value quickly.
How can I reduce total car ownership cost?
The most common approaches are choosing a car with low historical depreciation, driving less (lower fuel cost and wear), comparing insurance offers annually, and keeping the car longer to spread depreciation over more years.