How the calculation works
The calculator turns every cost into an amount per year, adds them up and divides by 12 and by the distance.
Value loss per year = (price − resale value) ÷ years
Interest per year = interest rate × (price + resale value) ÷ 2
Fuel per year = distance ÷ 100 × use per 100 × price per unit
Total per year = value loss + interest + fuel + insurance + road tax + maintenance + other costs × 12.Worked example
Price 30,000, resale 12,000 after 6 years, 12,000 km a year at 6.5 per 100 km and 1.90 per liter.
- Value loss: (30,000 − 12,000) ÷ 6 = 3,000.
- Interest at 3%: 3% × 21,000 = 630.
- Fuel: 12,000 ÷ 100 × 6.5 × 1.90 = 1,482.
- Plus insurance 700, road tax 300, maintenance 600 and 50 a month other (600): 7,312 a year, which is 609.33 a month.
What this calculator does not include
- Fines, tolls and a changing fuel price.
- Repairs that are much higher than your estimate.
- Tax effects such as a company car benefit.
Amounts are rounded for display only; the calculation itself is not rounded. Results are estimates for information, not financial advice. Last updated: 13 November 2026.
Frequently asked questions
What does owning a car really cost?
More than fuel. The biggest costs are often the value the car loses, insurance, maintenance and the interest on the money tied up in it. The calculator adds them all into one cost per month and per distance.
How do I fill in the resale value?
Estimate what the car will be worth when you sell it, in the number of years you plan to keep it. Price comparison sites and dealers show what similar older cars sell for. The value loss is the price minus this resale value, spread over the years.
Why is there interest on money tied up?
The money in a car cannot earn interest or pay off a loan. The calculator charges your percentage on the average of the price and the resale value, which is the money tied up on average. Use your loan rate or your savings rate.
Does it work for electric cars?
Yes. Use metric units, enter the consumption in kWh per 100 km and the price per kWh instead of liters and price per liter.
What is not included?
Fines, tolls, a changing fuel price, repairs that are much higher than usual, and tax effects such as a company car benefit. Add them to the other costs if they apply to you.