Average Cost of Owning and Operating an Automobile (2024)

(assuming 15,000 vehicle-miles per year)

Embedded Dataset Excel:

Dataset Excel:

table_03_17_032824.xlsx (197.52 KB)

Notes:

Changes in methodology have been made in 1985, 2004 and 2017, and thus costs may not be comparable before and after those years.

In 2004, the American Automobile Association adopted a new method for calculating vehicle operating costs that represent the real-world personal use of a vehicle over a five-year and 75,000-mile ownership period. The total cost of owning and operating an automobile include fuel, Maintenance, Tires, insurance, license, registration and taxes, depreciation, and finance.

Prior to 1985, the cost figures are for a mid-sized, current model, American car equipped with a variety of standard and optional accessories. After 1985, the cost figures represent a composite of three current model American cars. The 2004 fuel costs are based on average late-2003 U.S. prices from AAA's Fuel Gauge Report: www.fuelgaugereport.com. Insurance figures are based on a full-coverage policy for a married 47-year-old male with a good driving record living in a small city and commuting three to ten miles daily to work. The policy includes $100,000/$300,000 level coverage with a $500 deductible for collision coverage and a $100 deductible for comprehensive coverage. Depreciation costs are based on the difference between new-vehicle purchase price and its estimated trade-in-value at the end of five years. American Automobile Association analysis covers vehicles equipped with standard and optional accessories including automatic transmission, air conditioning, power steering, power disc brakes, AM/FM stereo, driver- and passenger-side air bags, anti-lock brakes, cruise control, tilt steering wheel, tinted glass, emissions equipment, and rear-window defogger.

The sum of Variable and Fixed costs may not add to totals due to rounding.

Description:

KEY: U = data are not available.

a All figures reflect the average cost of operating a vehicle 15,000 miles per year in stop and go conditions.

b Prior to 2004, data include oil cost.

c Beginning in 2004, data include oil cost. Beginning in 2017, data include maintenance, repair and tires.

d Fixed costs (ownership costs) include insurance, license, registration, taxes, depreciation, and finance charges.

Source:

American Automobile Association, Newsroom, Your Driving Costs Fact Sheet, available at https://newsroom.aaa.com/asset/your-driving-costs-fact-sheet-december-2020/ as of Mar. 22, 2024.

Publications:

Average Cost of Owning and Operating an Automobile (2024)

FAQs

How much does it cost to own and operate an automobile? ›

What vehicles are most expensive to own?
New Vehicle CategoryAverage Annual Cost
Medium Sedan$8,643
Minivan$10,036
Medium SUV$10,265
large Sedan$10,403
5 more rows

What is the average operating cost of a car? ›

Owning a car costs an average of $10,728 per year or $894 per month. The cost of owning and maintaining increased by 10% from 2021 and crossed the 10K mark in 2022. The costs of owning a car go beyond the purchase price.

What are the costs involved in buying and operating an automobile? ›

The total cost of owning and operating an automobile include fuel, Maintenance, Tires, insurance, license, registration and taxes, depreciation, and finance.

What is the cost per mile of owning and operating a vehicle? ›

2022 Year-in-Review

On average, it costs $0.72 per mile to operate and maintain a new vehicle in 2022, assuming the owner drives it 15,000 miles per year. The per-mile cost of owning an automobile has remained the same since 2020 – at $0.44 per mile.

What is the annual expense of a car? ›

When you take into account loan interest, depreciation, fuel, insurance, maintenance and fees, the cost of owning a car makes a big leap. For new vehicles driven 15,000 miles a year, average car ownership costs were $12,182 a year, or $1,015 a month, in 2023, according to AAA.

What is cost of owning and operating? ›

Owning costs = purchase price of machine + financing + taxes – disposal price (what you get for that machine when you resell it). Operating costs = labor + fuel + maintenance + replacement costs of tires, tracks and other components + overhead. Add the owning to the operating costs and you have your O&O costs.

What is usually the greatest expense in owning a vehicle? ›

Car insurance is one of the biggest expenses associated with vehicle ownership. Car insurance premiums are personalized to each individual, based on factors like: Age: Generally, teenagers and people in their 20s pay the highest insurance premiums.

Is it cheaper to not own a car? ›

Is It Cheaper Not to Own a Car? Yes, it is cheaper not to own a car. You will save money on the cost of a car, interest if there would have been a loan involved, gas, insurance, and maintenance.

Is a car expensive to maintain? ›

A 2022 AAA study estimates that the average car owner pays 9.68 cents per mile for maintenance and repairs over a five-year period — about $1,300 annually.

How much is wear and tear per mile? ›

The wear and tear include the cost of repairs, maintenance, and replacement of parts due to usage. This means that the wear and tear on your car is $0.10 per mile. Another way to think about this is: Fuel + oil changes + new tires + other maintenance/repairs + depreciation = wear and tear per mile.

What's the most sold car in America? ›

Figures are based on estimates by EVadoption.com. The Ford F-Series maintained its spot as the best-selling vehicle in America for over four decades straight. Of the two million cars that Ford sold last year, nearly 40% were of the F-Series.

How much should owner operators charge per mile? ›

Owner operators' average rate per mile depends on factors such as the type of freight being transported, the distance traveled, market demand, fuel prices, and operating costs. However, as a rough estimate, owner operators typically aim to earn between $1.50 to $2.00 per mile on average.

What is the cheapest vehicle to own and operate? ›

The cheapest cars to own and operate in 2024
  • Honda Civic: $5,480.
  • Mini Cooper Convertible: $5,543.
  • Toyota Yaris (2020): $5,615.
  • Toyota RAV4: $5,618.
  • Toyota Corolla: $5,627.
  • Nissan Rogue: $5,654.
  • Honda CR-V: $5,656.
  • Subaru Forester: $5,656.
Feb 8, 2024

How much does it cost to own a self driving car? ›

How much does a Tesla self driving car cost? In the US, a Tesla Model 3 Standard Range Plus with the Full Self-Driving option costs about $47,990 + $1,200 destination and documentation fee and sales tax. FSD is $10,000 of that cost.

What is the actual cost of making a car? ›

For a car that sells for $5,000, the manufacturer can make about $2,500 in profits, leaving the cost of manufacturing at about $12,500. Porsche – Most Porsche cars sell for between $50,000 and $150,000.

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