True Car Cost Calculator
Your car payment is only part of what your car costs. Find the true annual cost and cost per mile.
True Car Cost Calculator
True Car Cost Calculator
True annual cost
$8,400
Cost per mile
$0.7
IRS standard rate 67¢/mi in 2024
Total cost over ownership
$42,000
Annual depreciation
$3,000
Updates instantly · formula below
How to use this true car cost calculator
- 1Enter purchase price and expected resale value.
- 2Gather annual costs for insurance, fuel and maintenance.
- 3Enter annual mileage to calculate cost per mile.
Formula
How it's calculated
Annual cost = depreciation + insurance + fuel + maintenance. Depreciation = (purchase − resale) ÷ years.
About the True Car Cost Calculator
Most people budget the car payment but forget depreciation, insurance, fuel and maintenance often cost 2× more than the payment. A $500/month payment on a $30,000 car typically carries another $700/month in ownership costs — $1,200/month total.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average true cost of car ownership?
AAA estimates $10,000–$12,000/year for the average new car — $0.70–$0.85/mile at 12,000 miles/year.
Is buying used always cheaper?
Usually — steepest depreciation happens in years 1–3. A 3-year-old car cuts ownership cost by 30–40% with similar reliability.
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