Car Ownership Cost Calculator
The purchase price is just the beginning. See the true annual cost of owning a car.
True annual cost:
True monthly cost:
Depreciation per year:
Resale value after ownership:
Where your annual car cost goes
How to use this calculator
Enter the purchase price, annual depreciation, yearly insurance, fuel, maintenance and registration costs, plus how long you'll own it, then press Calculate. True annual and monthly costs are shown with a cost-breakdown chart.
Worked example
A $30,000 car kept for five years loses roughly $11,000 to depreciation, plus about $1,400 insurance, $1,800 fuel, $900 maintenance and $400 in registration a year. The true annual cost lands near $7,800 - over $600 a month - even before financing. Few buyers budget that figure, which is why this tool exists.
What the result means
The tool totals every ownership cost and shows the true annual amount. That number is what a car really costs you, and it is the honest input for deciding how much vehicle you can afford.
Depreciation is the hidden giant
- A new car can lose 40-50% of its value in the first three years.
- Fuel and insurance are visible; depreciation quietly dwarfs both over time.
- Buying a 2-3-year-old car sidesteps the steepest part of the curve.
Frequently asked questions
Why does the tool ask for depreciation separately?
Because it is the biggest and least obvious cost. Entering an honest annual loss percentage - typically 10-20% - makes the total realistic instead of rosy.