What we do
Cost To Own Calculator is a free online tool that reveals what a car really costs you — not just the sticker price, but the full cost of ownership over the years you keep it. Enter the purchase price, expected resale value, and your yearly insurance, fuel, maintenance, and fees, and it calculates your true cost to own, broken down per year and per month.
Run two vehicles through it side by side and the cheaper car to own is often a different one than the cheaper car to buy.
Why we built it
Most buyers focus on the price and the monthly payment, then get blindsided by depreciation, insurance, and upkeep. Depreciation alone — the value a car quietly loses — is usually the biggest cost of all, yet it never shows up as a bill. We built this tool to make those hidden costs visible before you commit, not after.
How our numbers work
We add up the five real costs of ownership: depreciation (purchase price minus expected resale value), plus insurance, fuel or charging, maintenance and repairs, and registration and fees over your chosen ownership period — with an optional field for total loan interest. Results are estimates for planning; real costs vary by vehicle, location, and how you drive.
Free and ad-supported
This tool is completely free. We keep it that way through advertising and never charge for calculations or hide features behind a paywall. We do not require an account and we do not sell your information — see our Privacy Policy for details. Questions or feedback? Visit our Contact page.