🚗 Car Ownership Cost Calculator

Calculate the true cost of owning a vehicle over time

Including purchase price, financing, depreciation, fuel, insurance, maintenance, and more

💵 Purchase Costs

$
$
$

🏦 Financing

$

⚙️ Operating Costs

$
$
$
$

📅 Ownership Period

$

Total Cost of Ownership

Total Ownership Cost
$64,507
Over 5 years
Net Cost (After Resale)
$49,507
Per Month
$825
Per Mile
$1

Ownership Cost Table

Cost bucketAmountHow to read it
Upfront cost$38,200Vehicle price plus tax, registration, and dealer fees.
Annual operating cost$4,350Fuel, insurance, maintenance, and yearly registration renewal.
Depreciation$20,000Purchase price minus expected resale value.
Monthly net cost$825Net ownership cost spread across the full ownership period.
Cost per mile$1Net ownership cost divided by total miles driven.

Purchase Breakdown

Purchase Price$35,000
Sales Tax$2,450
Registration Fee$250
Dealer Fees$500
Total Upfront Cost$38,200

Financing Summary

Loan Amount$31,200
Monthly Payment$596
Total Interest$4,557

Annual Operating Costs

Fuel$1,500
Insurance$1,500
Maintenance$1,200
Total Annual$4,350

Depreciation

Purchase Price$35,000
Resale Value$15,000
Total Depreciation$20,000

💡 Cost-Saving Tips

Increase Down Payment
Reduce loan amount and total interest paid
Shop Insurance Annually
Save $300-800/year with better rates
Regular Maintenance
Prevent costly repairs and preserve value
Choose Reliable Brands
Lower long-term maintenance costs

About This Calculator

Calculate the complete cost of owning a car including purchase price, financing, depreciation, fuel, insurance, maintenance, and repairs over 3-7 years.

Frequently Asked Questions

What costs should I include in total car ownership cost?

Include the purchase price, sales tax, dealer fees, loan interest, fuel, insurance, maintenance, registration renewals, depreciation, and expected resale value.

Why is cost per mile useful?

Cost per mile turns every ownership expense into one comparable number, which helps you compare vehicles, commute plans, and annual mileage assumptions.

How should I estimate depreciation?

Use the difference between today's purchase price and the resale value you expect at the end of the ownership period.

MT
Mike TorresEngineering & Math Tools Developer

Mike is a software engineer with a background in applied mathematics. He develops and maintains SuperCalc's engineering, conversion, and math utility calculators.

  • M.S. in Applied Mathematics, MIT
  • Former quantitative developer
  • 6 years building computational tools
Published: 2025-06-01github