True cost of owning a car
The sticker price is only the first payment. The real cost of a car is a cash flow that runs for years, and depreciation — the largest slice — is invisible until the day you sell. Enter the price, how long you keep it, the yearly running costs and the expected resale value; the tool works out the total cost of ownership, the yearly and monthly average, and the cost per unit of distance.
Result
A car costing 30,000 kept for 5 years really costs about 35,000: depreciation 18,000 (the biggest slice) plus 3,400 of running costs a year. That is roughly 7,000 per year, 583 a month, and 0.58 per unit of distance.
- Total cost of ownership
- 35,000
- of which depreciation
- 18,000
- Average per year
- 7,000
- Per month
- 583
- Per unit of distance
- 0.58
The result follows the running costs and resale value you enter; it is not purchase advice.
Assumptions & limits
No financing interest here (cash basis); a loan adds cost on top. Resale is the least certain figure, so estimate it low. Once you have the yearly average, compare it against ride-hailing, renting and public transport before setting a budget.
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