What does your car really cost?
Estimate more than just fuel. Add insurance, maintenance, depreciation and the everyday expenses that make up the cost of keeping a car.
Compare annual, monthly and per-mile totals. Supports petrol, diesel and electric cars with your own prices.
Build your estimate
Change the figures to match your own vehicle. Example figures are illustrative, not UK averages.
Fuel use
Electric charging
Ownership & depreciation
Annual expenses (£ per year)
Please enter valid values. Prices and distances cannot be negative; years kept and petrol/diesel MPG must be above zero.
Understanding the total
What costs should you include?
Fuel is only part of the picture. Annual ownership cost may also include insurance, vehicle excise duty (road tax), MOT, servicing and tyres. Depreciation is often particularly significant because a vehicle can lose value while you own it.
This calculator uses (purchase value − resale value) ÷ years kept for estimated annual depreciation. It uses UK imperial MPG: fuel litres per year = annual miles ÷ MPG × 4.54609. For electric cars, electricity used is annual miles ÷ 100 × kWh per 100 miles.
Example calculation
If you buy a car for £12,000, estimate a £6,000 resale value after five years, and drive 8,500 miles a year, depreciation is £1,200 a year before accounting for fuel and other running expenses. Real-world resale prices and future expenses are uncertain.
Why does per-mile cost differ from fuel cost per mile?
Fuel cost per mile counts only the fuel consumed. The all-in figure on this page spreads other estimated ownership expenses across annual mileage. It is therefore normally higher.
Electric cars and charging prices
EV electricity cost varies significantly between home and public chargers. Enter your expected blended price per kWh. The estimate does not automatically account for charging losses, battery degradation or home charger installation.
Questions drivers ask
Does this include finance or loan payments?
Depreciation is calculated from the purchase and resale values. Add finance interest and other borrowing charges under other costs where relevant, but do not add the full loan repayments on top of depreciation or you could double-count the cost of the vehicle.
Should I use manufacturer MPG or my actual MPG?
Real-world MPG from your own trips is generally more relevant for estimating future fuel spending. You can calculate it using our MPG calculator.
Is vehicle tax the same for every car?
No. Vehicle Excise Duty varies with registration date, emissions, list price and other factors. Enter the amount relevant to your own car rather than relying on a generic average.
Can the result be used as an HMRC mileage deduction?
No. This is a personal budgeting estimate. Eligible mileage allowances and simplified expenses follow different rules; use the HMRC mileage calculator for those.