What does owning a car really cost?

Add one or more cars, tweak a few numbers, and see how purchase, loan, yearly bills and fuel or charging stack up over time — great for comparing petrol, diesel or electric.

Cost structure

Ownership costs combine purchase and financing, value loss, fixed yearly fees, and variable driving costs that change with mileage and energy prices.

  • Purchase, financing and depreciation usually drive most of total ownership cost.
  • Fuel/charging and maintenance are usage-dependent: they scale with yearly mileage.
  • Insurance, annual taxes and fees are more fixed, but can vary by car class and region.

Diesel vs petrol vs electric

Petrol/diesel often have lower upfront prices but higher fuel cost exposure, while EVs usually shift more cost to upfront value and charging profile; taxes and maintenance can differ significantly by model and usage.

  • Diesel can suit high-mileage driving, but taxes/fees and maintenance profile can differ.
  • Petrol often has simpler maintenance assumptions, but fuel-price volatility impacts yearly cost.
  • EVs can cut energy/maintenance spend in many cases, but purchase price and value trend matter more.

Using this calculator well

  • Adjust mileage, then update maintenance and wear-related costs accordingly.
  • For EVs, set realistic home vs fast-charging split and both electricity prices.
  • Compare both TCO and estimated remaining value at your selected horizon.

Your numbers

Change numbers below — totals and charts update live. Adjust display style and visible sections in the panel below; your choices are saved on this device.

5 years
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How this calculator works

This tool gives a practical estimate. Use your own numbers for best results.

  • Some costs are mostly fixed (insurance, annual fees), while others change with usage (fuel/electricity, maintenance, wear).
  • Depreciation can be modeled as end-value target (linear over selected years) or yearly % of remaining value (declining balance).
  • If you increase yearly kilometers, also increase maintenance/wear estimates. Example: doubling km/year usually means noticeably higher maintenance.
  • Defaults are examples only. Taxes, prices, service, financing and charging/fuel costs vary by car, location and driving style.