Car running costs calculator

Car running costs — FAQs

What counts as a running cost?

Fuel or charging, insurance, registration and CTP, scheduled servicing, tyres and roadside assistance — the money it takes to keep a car legally and reliably on the road. Parking, tolls and fines sit on top and vary too much by person to generalise.

Why do running-cost surveys include depreciation when my budget does not?

Depreciation is value the car loses rather than money leaving your account each week, so weekly budgets usually leave it out — but over a period of ownership it is often the largest cost of all, which is why motoring-club surveys count it. Include it when comparing what ownership really costs; leave it out when planning cash flow.

How many kilometres does an Australian car travel in a year?

ABS motor-vehicle-use surveys put the average passenger car at roughly 11,000 to 13,800 km a year. Your own figure beats the average: two odometer readings a year apart tell you exactly what you drive.

Are electric cars cheaper to run?

It depends on what you pay for electricity and how far you drive. Charging at home overnight usually undercuts petrol per kilometre, public fast charging can approach it, and EV servicing schedules are typically lighter — but insurance, registration and tyres still apply. Compare with your own numbers rather than a slogan.

How much is car registration in Australia?

It varies by state and vehicle — roughly in the hundreds of dollars a year up to well past a thousand for a standard passenger car once compulsory third-party insurance is counted. Your renewal notice is the real number; state presets in a calculator are starting points.

Does the cost of the car itself count as a running cost?

No — running costs are what it takes to keep a car on the road once you have it. Loan repayments are the purchase side, and adding the two together gives the true weekly cost of ownership. Put your own figures in with the car running costs calculator.

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