Total Car Ownership Cost Calculator
Know what your car really costs you. Combine purchase price, depreciation, fuel, insurance, maintenance and taxes to get the total cost of ownership — and the honest monthly figure.
How it works
Resale value = purchase price × (1 − depreciation/100)^years. Total ownership cost subtracts the resale value from the purchase price and adds every recurring annual cost over the ownership period. This is the number to compare when deciding how much car you can afford.
Frequently asked questions
Why is depreciation so important?
A car losing 15% per year loses thousands in value while you own it — often more than fuel. Ignoring depreciation understates the true monthly cost dramatically.
Is the monthly figure a good affordability measure?
Yes, but compare like with like: a financed car also adds loan interest, while this calculator treats the purchase as fully paid. Add finance charges to the purchase price for a financed comparison.