Ownership Cost by Mileage Tier

Ownership cost in the U.S. varies by mileage tier—low (e.g., 7,500/year), medium (12,000), high (18,000+). Here's how mileage tier affects total cost and how to compare.

TL;DR Higher miles = more fuel, more maintenance, more depreciation. Compare total cost of ownership at your expected miles—don't assume 12,000 if you drive 18,000. Use autopremo.com total cost of ownership and plug in your mileage tier.

Ownership Cost by Mileage Tier (5 Years)

• Low (7,500 miles/year) — 37,500 miles over 5 years. Lower fuel, lower maintenance, lower depreciation hit. Total cost lower than high-mileage drivers.
• Medium (12,000 miles/year) — 60,000 miles over 5 years. Typical; use for "average" comparison. Use autopremo.com total cost.
• High (18,000+ miles/year) — 90,000+ miles over 5 years. Higher fuel, higher maintenance, higher depreciation. Total cost significantly higher—efficiency (MPG) and reliability matter more.

See total cost at your mileage at autopremo.com.

What to Do

• Use your expected miles when comparing total cost. Use autopremo.com total cost of ownership and enter your annual miles—don't use default if you're high or low mileage.
• If you're high mileage — prioritize efficiency (MPG) and reliability; total cost will be sensitive to fuel and maintenance. Compare hybrids and efficient gas cars. Use autopremo.com gas vs electric if considering EV.

Get total cost at autopremo.com.

Bottom Line

Ownership cost varies by mileage tier—higher miles = higher total cost. Compare at your expected miles using total cost of ownership. Use autopremo.com to see total cost at your mileage so you don't underbudget.