Car Total Cost of Ownership
Calculate the complete cost of car ownership including depreciation, financing, fuel, insurance, maintenance, and more.
Enter Your Values
Using shared profile · 3,500/mo · EUR — edit on Dashboard
Results update automatically as you change values.
What-If Scenarios
Results update instantlyCost Breakdown
Net Cost: New vs Used vs Keep
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New Car Cost Breakdown
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Cumulative Cost Over Time (New Car)
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Side-by-Side Comparison
Bars show relative size · ✓ marks the better option- Purchase Price
- €30,000
- 5-Year Net Cost
- €42,375
- Monthly Cost
- €706
- Cost per km
- €0.56
- Depreciation
- €15,000
- Risk
- Medium
- Flexibility
- High
- Purchase Price
- €18,000
- 5-Year Net Cost
- €36,034
- Monthly Cost
- €601
- Cost per km
- €0.48
- Depreciation
- €9,000
- Risk
- Low
- Flexibility
- Medium
- Purchase Price
- €0
- 5-Year Net Cost
- €17,500
- Monthly Cost
- €292
- Cost per km
- €0.23
- Depreciation
- €0
- Risk
- Lowest
- Flexibility
- Highest
| Factor | New Car | Used Car | Recommended Keep Current |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purchase Price | €30,000 | €18,000 | €0 |
| 5-Year Net Cost | €42,375 | €36,034 | €17,500 |
| Monthly Cost | €706 | €601 | €292 |
| Cost per km | €0.56 | €0.48 | €0.23 |
| Depreciation | €15,000 | €9,000 | €0 |
| Risk | Medium | Low | Lowest |
| Flexibility | High | Medium | Highest |
Over 5 years, keeping your current car is cheapest at €17500 net (€292/month). A new car costs €42375, used €36034, and keeping current €17500. Buying used saves €6340 vs new. Keeping your car saves €24875 vs buying new.
Scenario Analysis
How the outcome shifts if your assumptions turn out better or worse than expected.
Keep current car, low fuel
At your stated values
New car, high fuel, major repairs
Compare Scenarios
Pin up to 3 and see them side by sideSet your inputs, then Pin current to save this scenario. Pin a few variations to compare their scores and outcomes here.
What Moves the Needle Most
How much each factor changes your 5-Year Total Cost (New) across its full range. Ownership Period has the biggest impact.
Focus your attention on Ownership Period — getting it right matters most. Factors lower down move the result less, so rough estimates there are fine.
Confidence & Assumptions
The result swings widely between best and worst cases — it depends heavily on assumptions that are hard to predict.
Net Cost: €52,968 (worst) → €42,375 (expected) → €17,500 (best)
These are the estimates the result depends on. Adjust them (and the Advanced inputs) to match your real situation — the closer they are to reality, the more reliable your decision.
These estimates are for informational purposes only and do not constitute financial advice. Actual results may vary based on factors not captured in this calculator.
How This Calculator Works
What this calculator does
This calculator reveals the complete cost of owning a car — not just the monthly payment, but depreciation, financing, fuel, insurance, maintenance, parking, and taxes over your entire ownership period.
How the calculation works
We sum all costs over the ownership period: loan payments (principal + interest), fuel, insurance, maintenance, parking, road tax, and depreciation (purchase price minus resale value). The total gives the true cost per month and per kilometre.
Formula
Annual Fuel = (km/100) × LPer100km × fuelPrice EMI = P × r × (1+r)^n / ((1+r)^n - 1) Depreciation = (Price - Resale) / Years Total Annual = Financing + Fuel + Insurance + Maintenance + Parking + Tax + Depreciation
Example
€30,000 car, €6,000 down, 7% loan, 5 years, 15,000 km/year, €1.70/L, 7L/100km: Monthly cost = €675, 5-year total = €40,490, cost per km = €0.54.
How to Use This Calculator
- 1Enter your numbers
Fill in the inputs for Car Total Cost of Ownership. Defaults are realistic starting points — replace them with your actual figures.
- 2Understand the calculation
We sum all costs over the ownership period: loan payments (principal + interest), fuel, insurance, maintenance, parking, road tax, and depreciation (purchase price minus resale value). The total gives the true cost per month and per kilometre.
- 3Review results and scenarios
Check metrics, cost breakdown, comparison tables, and best / expected / worst scenarios. Use sliders to stress-test assumptions.
- 4Decide with the verdict
Read the decision engine recommendation and FAQ. Example: €30,000 car, €6,000 down, 7% loan, 5 years, 15,000 km/year, €1.70/L, 7L/100km: Monthly cost = €675, 5-year total = €40,490, cost per km = €0.54.
Factors to Consider
- Depreciation is often the largest single cost
- New cars depreciate 20-30% in the first year
- Fuel costs vary significantly with driving distance and efficiency
- Insurance varies by driver age, location, and car type
- Maintenance increases as the car ages
Common Mistakes
- Only considering the monthly payment, not total cost
- Forgetting depreciation — the biggest hidden cost
- Underestimating maintenance on older cars
- Not including parking and toll costs
- Ignoring opportunity cost of the down payment
Frequently Asked Questions
What is total cost of ownership (TCO)?+
TCO is the complete cost of owning an asset over its useful life — including purchase, financing, running costs, maintenance, and depreciation.
How much does a car cost per km?+
Typically €0.40-€0.80 per km for a mid-range car, including all costs. This calculator gives you the exact number for your situation.
Is it cheaper to keep an old car or buy new?+
Older cars cost more in maintenance but less in depreciation. Once annual repairs exceed the annual depreciation of a newer car, it may be time to replace.
This calculator provides estimates for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, tax, or legal advice. Always consult a qualified professional before making important financial decisions.
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