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Cost to Own
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Total Cost of Ownership Car Calculator

Cost to Own is the total amount of vehicle-related costs you will likely have to cover during the first 5 years of owning a car. This includes out-of-pocket expenses like fuel and insurance, and vehicle depreciation (loss in value).

How Do You Compare Cost to Own?

Even if two vehicles are priced the same, that doesn't mean they will cost the same over time. Knowing the 5-Year Cost to Own ahead of time can help you save money in the long run.

5-Year Cost to Own
5-Year Cost to Own
$35,998

VS

5-Year Cost to Own
$38,368
40K

30K

20K

10K

0

Depreciation
The loss in the vehicle's value since the purchase date
$13,365
Out of Pocket
Fuel, Insurance, Financing, State Fees, Maintenance and Repairs
$22,633
Left Car Graphic Image
Depreciation
The loss in the vehicle's value since the purchase date
$14,403
Out of Pocket
Fuel, Insurance, Financing, State Fees, Maintenance and Repairs
$23,965
Right Car Graphic Image

Same Purchase Price

What you paid for the car 5 years ago

$19,272


Depreciation
The loss in the vehicle's value since the purchase date
Out of Pocket
Fuel, Insurance, Financing, State Fees, Maintenance and Repairs
View detailed description of this graph

What Does Cost to Own Include?

Fuel

Fuel

Annual fuel cost for 15,000 miles

Financing

Financing

Most can't afford to buy a car outright

Maintenance

Maintenance

What it costs to keep the car running well

State Fees

State Fees

Items like sales tax, license and registration

Insurance

Insurance

Your state's average incl. collision/liability

Depreciation (Loss in Value)

Depreciation (Loss in Value)

Price paid vs. current value

Repairs

Repairs

Based on a no-deductible extended warranty

Compare Cost to Own

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FAQs

The cost of a car after years is based on how much it depreciates and the out of pocket expenses related to the car. On average, new cars depreciate by 55% of their original value after five years, but certain models hold their value better than others. Out of pocket expenses will depend on a variety of factors, including the make and model of the car, as well as how you use the car and where you live.

The 5-Year Cost to Own is the total amount of vehicle-related costs you will likely have to cover during the first 5 years of owning a car. When you consider insurance, maintenance costs, fuel costs, and the big one, depreciation, choosing a slightly pricier model can save you money in the long run. And that also means less expensive cars can cost more over time.

A vehicle's cost to own typically decreases after each year of ownership. Below is the average cost to own per year for all new vehicles for which Kelley Blue Book is able to estimate cost to own.
Year 1: $26,560
Year 2: $15,192
Year 3: $13,472
Year 4: $14,183
Year 5: $10,831
Total 5-Year Cost to Own: $80,238
Please note these are average costs, and vehicle-specific estimates will vary by make, model, body style and other factors. Additionally, actual costs and depreciation for a vehicle after purchase will vary based on how the car is driven and each owner's specific situation.

Five costs associated with owning a car are vehicle depreciation, insurance, fuel, financing and state fees. Kelley Blue Book also factors in maintenance and repairs in a vehicle's cost to own.

Based on all new vehicles for which Kelley Blue Book is able to estimate cost to own, the average cost of owning a car is $80,238. Please note this is the average of all vehicles, and vehicle-specific estimates will vary by make, model, body style and other factors. Additionally, actual costs and depreciation for a vehicle after purchase will vary based on how the car is driven and each owner's specific situation.

More From KBB.com

General
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Kelley Blue Book’s Best Resale Value Awards are annual recognitions for the brands and vehicles that do the best job of retaining value.

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Description of graph on this page: The image shows a comparison of the 5-year cost to own for two different vehicles with the same purchase price of $19,272 from 5 years ago: the left section shows a total 5-year cost to own of $35,998 with depreciation, which is the loss in the vehicle's value since the purchase date, at $13,365 and out-of-pocket expenses, which include fuel, insurance, financing, state fees, maintenance, and repairs, at $22,633. The right section shows total 5-year cost to own of $38,368 with depreciation at $14,403 and out-of-pocket expenses at $23,965. [End of description]

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