Car Total Cost of Ownership Calculator

How the calculator works

For each car you enter, we estimate what it costs to own over the next five years, year by year, and add it up. The sticker price is only the start: two cars at the same price can end up thousands of dollars apart once fuel, upkeep and lost value are counted.

• Fuel: the EPA combined rating for the trim you pick (or the typical rating across the model's versions if you don't), priced at current fuel prices for that fuel type. Electric cars are priced per kWh.
• Depreciation: value lost from the price you enter, following a model-specific curve based on published five-year depreciation studies and the car's age.
• Maintenance: scheduled service by mileage, adjusted for the engine and drivetrain.
• Repairs: unscheduled repair costs that rise with age and mileage, based on model reliability records. Entering a VIN uses that exact vehicle's data where available.
• Insurance: the monthly premium you enter. Leave it blank and insurance is left out.
• Financing: interest paid on your loan, if you enter one.
• Registration: annual registration fees (Virginia rates for now).

These are estimates, not quotes. Your real costs depend on the car's condition, where you live and how you drive. For worked examples, see our car cost guides, or read more about our methodology.