Used Car Cost Calculator
Calculate the total cost of owning a used car from its purchase price and estimated annual insurance, maintenance, registration, and fuel costs.
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Estimated Annual Costs
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/ yr
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/ yr
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/ yr
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/ yr
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Results
Total Cost of Ownership
$39,000
Combined Annual Running Cost
$4,800
Total Running Cost (over period)
$24,000
Cost Per Year
$7,800
Cost Per Month
$650
How to Calculate the True Cost of Owning a Used Car
The purchase price is only part of what a used car costs. This calculator adds the purchase price to your estimated annual insurance, maintenance and repairs, registration and taxes, and fuel costs over your expected ownership period — used cars typically run higher on maintenance than new ones, so it pays to estimate that realistically — then shows the total cost of ownership, plus a cost per year and per month.
Example
A $15,000 used car with $1,400/year insurance, $1,200/year maintenance, $400/year registration, and $1,800/year fuel — $4,800 combined annual cost — owned for 5 years comes to a total cost of ownership of $15,000 + ($4,800 × 5) = $39,000, or $7,800 per year and $650 per month.
Common Use Cases
- Comparing the true multi-year cost of two different used cars, not just their sticker prices.
- Deciding whether a cheaper used car with higher running costs actually costs less than a pricier one.
- Comparing buying used against buying new once ongoing costs are factored in.
FAQs
Why do used cars typically have higher maintenance costs?
Older vehicles are more likely to need wear-item replacements (brakes, tires, belts, batteries) and unexpected repairs, and they usually aren't covered by a full manufacturer warranty anymore, so it's realistic to budget noticeably more for maintenance than you would for a new car.
Does this include depreciation?
No — this calculator treats the purchase price as a fixed cost and doesn't estimate resale value at the end of ownership. If you plan to sell the car afterward, subtract your expected resale value from the total cost of ownership to get a more complete picture.
How can I use this to compare against a different vehicle?
Run the calculator once per vehicle with each car's own purchase price and estimated annual costs, then compare the total cost of ownership or cost-per-year figures side by side — the cheaper purchase price doesn't always win once running costs are included.