Annual Car Running Cost Calculator
All-in annual cost: fuel, insurance, tax, servicing, depreciation.
Calculate the full annual cost of car ownership: fuel, insurance, road tax, servicing, tyres, and depreciation. See true per-mile cost.
What this tool does
Enter annual mileage, fuel efficiency, fuel cost per litre, insurance, road tax, servicing, and depreciation. The tool calculates annual running cost plus cost per mile.
Enter Values
Formula Used
Spotted something off?
Calculations, display, or translation — let us know.
Disclaimer
Results are estimates for educational purposes only. They do not constitute financial advice. Consult a qualified professional before making financial decisions.
The true cost of car ownership is typically 30-60% higher than headline monthly payment or purchase price implies. Most owners focus on fuel as the main running cost, but across a year, insurance, depreciation, servicing, tyres, and road tax often exceed fuel spending. Getting to a realistic annual number changes how people think about vehicle choices — the difference between a 20k and 30k car isn't 10k, it's roughly 10k plus meaningful difference in annual running costs for years.
The categoriesfuel (annual mileage × cost per mile based on efficiency), insurance (annual premium), road tax/registration (varies by jurisdiction and vehicle), servicing (annual service + periodic major services averaged), tyres (roughly 300-600/year averaged depending on mileage and type), depreciation (by far the largest hidden cost — typically 10-15% of value per year for new cars, less for older).
Per-mile cost is the useful denominator. Once you know your all-in cost per mile, decisions about whether to drive vs use public transport, rent a car vs own, or keep vs replace become much clearer. Typical per-mile ranges: 0.40-0.80 depending on car and usage. Commercial per-mile (the tax authority mileage allowance) is 0.45 for first 10k miles — useful reference.
How to use it
Enter annual mileage, fuel efficiency (MPG or litres/100km depending on your preference), fuel cost per litre, annual insurance, road tax, annual servicing estimate, tyres budget, and annual depreciation. The tool produces total annual cost and per-mile cost.
What the result means
Annual cost is the real budget figure for car ownership. Per-mile cost is the decision tool — useful for comparing alternatives and deciding whether specific trips are worth the marginal cost. Most people are surprised how high per-mile runs once all categories are counted.
Budgeting tool, not financial advice. Costs vary by vehicle, location, and driving pattern.
Running a car 10,000 miles miles produces an annual total based on the inputs provided.
Inputs
This example uses typical values for illustration. Adjust the inputs above to match a specific situation and see how the result changes.
Sources & Methodology
Methodology
Converts MPG to litres (÷ 4.546), multiplies by miles to get fuel litres, then by price for fuel cost. Sums all categories for total. Divides by annual mileage for per-mile cost.
References
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I estimate depreciation?
Should I include finance interest?
What about parking and tolls?
Is the per-mile figure realistic?
Related Calculators
Subscription Audit Calculator
Audit total monthly subscriptions. See annual, 5-year, and 10-year spend plus daily cost across entertainment and services.
AI Tools Cost Calculator
Calculate total AI subscription spending. ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, plus others combined into monthly, annual, and 5-year projections.
Annual Subscriptions Audit Calculator
Calculate annual subscription spend across streaming, software, memberships, and services. Enter streaming services to see annual total and cut opportunities.
More Budget Calculators
Budget
50/30/20 Budget Calculator
Calculate 50/30/20 budget allocation from monthly net income across needs, wants, and savings. Instant results from your inputs, with the methodology visible.
Budget
50/30/20 Budget Rule Calculator
Split monthly take-home into 50% needs, 30% wants, 20% savings buckets and compare against actual spending. Enter take-home income and see the result instantly.
Budget
AI Tools Cost Calculator
Calculate total AI subscription spending. ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, plus others combined into monthly, annual, and 5-year projections.
Budget
Allotment vs Supermarket Savings Calculator
Calculate allotment plot savings vs supermarket. Enter annual plot cost, yield value, and typical veg spend to see net annual savings.
Budget
Annual Budget Health Check
Score your annual budget health across 50/30/20, savings rate, emergency fund, and debt ratios. Get a 0-100 score with diagnostic breakdown.
Budget
Annual Budget Planner
Plan your full year budget: income, essentials, discretionary, savings goals, and one-off expenses. See annual surplus and goal achievability.
Explore Other Financial Tools
Modern Life Events
Umrah Cost Calculator
Plan total Umrah pilgrimage cost across flights, accommodation, and travel expenses. Enter accommodation per night and nights for an instant result.
Investing
Price to Earnings Calculator
Calculate price-to-earnings ratio from share price and earnings per share, the core stock valuation metric. Free and runs in your browser.
Financial Health
Office Space Cost Calculator
Calculate annual office space total cost including rent and services. Enter square feet to see total annual office cost including rent and services.