5-Year Car Cost of Ownership Calculator

It is everything you spend on a car over the years you own it, not just the purchase price. That includes depreciation (how much value the car loses), fuel or electricity, insurance, servicing and maintenance, and loan interest if you borrowed to buy it.

A lower price does not always mean lower running costs. A car with poor mileage, higher servicing bills or faster depreciation can cost more over time than a pricier car that is cheaper to run. Comparing the full 5-year cost shows the real difference.

Depreciation is the on-road price minus the resale value you expect after 5 years. The resale value is entered as a percentage of the price. The 50% pre-filled here is only an example, and real resale values differ by model, condition, fuel type and market.

It can be, because electricity per km usually costs less than fuel and servicing is often lower. But electric cars often cost more to buy and their resale values are less certain. Enter your own prices, charging cost and expected resale value to see the result for your case.

If you tick the loan option, the calculator adds the interest you would pay during the first 5 years. The loan principal is not added again because it is already part of the car's price. Taking a loan therefore raises the 5-year cost by the interest only.

Prices are assumed to stay constant for 5 years. Fuel price rises, insurance changes, repairs outside normal servicing, tyres and battery replacement, parking, tolls, fines and taxes are not included unless you add them to the servicing and maintenance figure. Treat the result as an estimate.