Car Cost Calculator — True Monthly Cost

How the total cost adds up

The tool calculates fuel cost from your annual mileage, consumption, and fuel price, then spreads it across the months. On top of that it estimates depreciation at roughly 12 percent a year and adds insurance, tax, and servicing.

For example, with a 20,000 car driven 15,000 kilometres a year, the single largest cost is often depreciation rather than fuel.

What you enter and what you get

You enter the car's value, annual mileage in kilometres, fuel consumption per 100 kilometres, and the price of fuel per litre.

You get the monthly fuel cost, depreciation, the combined total of insurance, tax, and servicing, all costs per month, and the price for every kilometre driven.

Who it is for

The calculator helps anyone considering a car to map out a realistic budget and current owners to compare whether a cheaper or more efficient model is worth switching to. It also works for a rough comparison between a company car and a private one.

Good to know

The estimate includes fuel, depreciation at about 12 percent a year, insurance at around 800 a year, vehicle tax at around 250 a year, and servicing at around 600 a year.

The biggest hidden cost is often depreciation, which is not felt monthly but materialises when you sell the car. For a more model-specific comparison, use a car comparison calculator.