Guide
A guide to estimating total car ownership costs, including fuel, insurance, depreciation, financing, taxes, maintenance, and usage assumptions.
Best for: Drivers comparing cars before buying or checking whether a current vehicle still fits the budget.
Monthly finance or lease payments are easy to see, but they are only one part of the decision. A cheap payment can still hide high insurance, fuel, depreciation, or maintenance.
Include insurance, road tax, service, tires, parking, expected repairs, fuel or charging, depreciation, and any financing fees. Small recurring items matter when added over a year.
The useful question is not just whether a car is affordable today. It is whether the total monthly cost still makes sense compared with alternatives under realistic mileage and fuel assumptions.
Takeaways
Next step
See the monthly number before you choose the car.
Related apps
Plan investment scenarios without spreadsheet setup.
Understand the monthly payment before you commit.
Loan planning across Mac, iPhone, and iPad.