🚗 True Cost of Car Ownership Calculator
Calculate the real total cost of owning a car — depreciation, fuel, insurance, maintenance, registration, and financing — over your ownership period.
Enter your values
- Cost per year€6,785.00
- Cost per month€565.42
- Cost per km (€)0.45
- Depreciation€17,000.00
- Total fuel cost€8,925.00
- Running costs (insur. + maint. + reg.)€8,000.00
- Financing interest€0.00
What this means
- Total cost of ownership over the period: €33,925.00.
- That works out to €565.42 per month.
- Cost per kilometre driven: €0.45.
- Depreciation accounts for €17,000.00 of the total — typically the single largest cost.
Visual results
Detailed breakdown
| Year | Depreciation | Running costs | Financing |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | €3,400.00 | €3,385.00 | €0.00 |
| 2 | €6,800.00 | €6,770.00 | €0.00 |
| 3 | €10,200.00 | €10,155.00 | €0.00 |
| 4 | €13,600.00 | €13,540.00 | €0.00 |
| 5 | €17,000.00 | €16,925.00 | €0.00 |
About this calculator
The hidden costs of car ownership
Most people think of a car’s cost as the monthly payment. The true cost is much higher. Depreciation, fuel, insurance, maintenance, registration, and financing together typically add up to 2–3× what people expect — often making the car the second-largest lifetime expense after housing.
Depreciation: the silent cost
A new car loses roughly 20% of its value the moment it leaves the dealership, and 50–60% over five years. On a €25,000 car, that is €12,500–15,000 in value simply evaporating — without driving a single kilometre. This is why the purchase price, resale value, and ownership period are the most influential inputs in this calculator.
Fuel cost over time
Fuel cost depends on three variables: how far you drive, how efficiently your car uses fuel, and the price per litre. All three can vary significantly. High-mileage drivers (20,000+ km/year) often find fuel rivals depreciation as the biggest cost category. Electric vehicles shift the cost from fuel to electricity (use kWh/100km and cost per kWh) and typically reduce this line significantly.
Financing adds real cost
A €20,000 car loan at 5% over 5 years costs roughly €2,650 in interest — on top of the full purchase price and depreciation. The car does not hold value; the loan does not reduce depreciation. If the same money were invested at a modest return rate instead of being used for a car payment, the opportunity cost is even higher.
The per-kilometre view
Dividing total ownership cost by total kilometres driven is the most honest measure of what a car journey actually costs. For many drivers, the real cost is €0.30–0.60 per kilometre — often higher than ridesharing or public transport for infrequent users.
Frequently asked questions
What is included in the total cost of car ownership?
This calculator includes five cost categories: depreciation (the loss in value from purchase to resale), fuel (based on your annual km and consumption), running costs (insurance, maintenance, and registration/road tax), and optionally financing interest if you take a car loan. It does not include parking, tolls, or unexpected repair costs beyond the annual maintenance estimate.
Why is depreciation usually the biggest cost?
New cars lose 15–25% of their value in the first year and roughly 50–60% over five years. On a €25,000 car with a €8,000 resale value after five years, the €17,000 depreciation alone exceeds the combined fuel, insurance, and maintenance costs for most drivers. This is why buying a 2–3 year old car — after the steepest depreciation has already occurred — is often the most cost-effective choice.
How does car financing affect the total cost?
A car loan adds interest to the purchase price without adding any value to the car. On a €25,000 loan at 5% over 5 years, you pay roughly €3,300 in interest — on top of the car's full depreciation. This means a financed car costs significantly more than a cash purchase. If you must finance, a shorter term and larger down payment minimise the interest penalty.