Finance
Cost of car ownership
By Alapty teamEdited on 7/15/20251 min read
Why own a car?
- you need to travel and there are no alternatives nearby where you live (and you really don't want to move)
- you have enough money that the cost of owning a car is not any issue
Why not own a car?
- you live close to the places you travel to and / or have alternative transport (bike, bus, tram, metro, train, car sharing, taxi)
- you do not have enough money for the monthly payments
- you are ok with less convenience to save some money on travel costs
- you are not able to drive or somebody that drives for you
So what is the difference between the cost of owning a car and the cost of alternative transport?
Illustrative estimates — your real costs will differ
- Depreciation uses a straight-line approximation. Real market depreciation varies by brand, condition, and timing.
- Fuel/electricity costs use your inputs. Actual costs depend on driving style and local prices.
- Maintenance defaults are averages — EVs tend to cost less, older cars more.
- No financing costs, parking, tolls, or fines are included.
This tool is for comparison purposes only, not a purchase recommendation. See our full disclaimer.
Your car
Fixed annual costs
Rule of thumb: ~1% of purchase price/yr
What you'd spend on public transport, car-sharing, taxis, etc. without a car
Monthly breakdown
Depreciation€229,17/mo
Insurance€125,00/mo
Registration€29,17/mo
Fixed subtotal€383,33/mo
Fuel€138,75/mo
Maintenance€41,67/mo
Variable subtotal€180,42/mo
Total monthly cost€563,75
Total over 5 years€33.825
Car costs €363,75/mo more than your alternative travel budget of €200,00/mo.
