Vehicle Cost Comparison Calculator

The average US car costs $8,000-$12,000 per year to own, including fuel ($1,500-$2,500), insurance ($1,200-$2,000), maintenance ($500-$1,000), registration and fees ($150-$500), state inspection ($20-$50), and depreciation ($3,000-$5,000). Electric vehicles cost 30-50% less to run than gas equivalents.

Electric vehicles have the lowest running costs at approximately $0.04 per mile vs $0.12-0.16 for gas. Small fuel-efficient cars (e.g. Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic) are the cheapest to insure and register. Hybrid vehicles offer a middle ground with 45-55mpg and lower insurance costs.

Cost per mile = (Annual Fuel + Insurance + Maintenance + Registration + Depreciation) ÷ Annual Miles. For a car costing $10,000/year to own doing 12,000 miles, that is $0.83 per mile. Tracking this helps compare vehicle options and business mileage claims.

The average new US car costs $10,000-$12,000 per year to own including fuel, insurance, registration, state inspection, servicing, and depreciation per AAA Your Driving Costs. Fuel costs $1,500-$3,000/year for average mileage. Insurance averages $1,400-$2,200/year. Depreciation is the largest hidden cost at $3,000-$5,000/year for the first 3 years.

Four key factors: fuel type and efficiency (EVs cost $0.04/mile vs $0.12-0.16/mile for gas), insurance rate (depends on state, age, and driving record), annual mileage, and vehicle age. Newer cars have lower repair costs but higher depreciation. Cars over 3 years old have lower depreciation but higher maintenance costs.

Yes. EVs cost $0.04-0.05 per mile vs $0.12-0.16 for gas at 2026 prices. Annual fuel savings are $1,000-$2,000 for average mileage. EVs also have lower servicing costs (no oil changes, fewer brake replacements) and often qualify for reduced registration fees. However, the higher purchase price means total cost parity is reached after 3-5 years.

Three strategies: shop around for insurance annually (loyalty premiums cost US drivers an average of $300/year), maintain correct tire pressure (improves fuel efficiency by 3-5%), and compare gas prices locally using apps like GasBuddy (the difference between cheapest and most expensive stations in an area is typically $0.20-$0.40 per gallon).

Shop for insurance 3-4 weeks before your renewal date, this is when comparison sites show the best prices. Avoid auto-renewal which is almost always more expensive. Getting quotes on weekdays yields slightly lower prices than weekends. Increasing your deductible from $500 to $1,000 can reduce premiums by 10-15%.

A good auto loan APR in the US is 4-6% for new cars and 6-9% for used cars.

Average fleet running cost is $8,000-$14,000 per vehicle per year for vans, including fuel, insurance, maintenance, registration, and depreciation.

Office work carries per-employee costs of $4,000-10,000 annually in most US markets and $12,000-20,000 in major metros like NYC and SF for desk space, utilities, office supplies, and commuter benefits according to CBRE 2025 data.

Calculate your target annual income, add all business expenses (tools, taxes, insurance, professional development), then divide by your realistic billable hours (typically 60-70% of total work hours).

The EV vs Gas calculator compares costs given fixed inputs and outputs a financial breakeven.