Back to Blog
True Cost of Owning a Car Calculator
True cost of owning a car calculator in the US—how to use one and what to include so you see full 5-year cost.
AutoPremo Team
January 31, 2026
2 min read
A true cost of owning a car calculator in the U.S. shows full 5-year cost—purchase/loan, depreciation, fuel, insurance, and maintenance. Here's how to use one and what to include.
TL;DR True cost of owning a car = purchase/loan + depreciation + fuel + insurance + maintenance + fees over 5 years. Use a calculator that lets you plug in your assumptions (miles, location, financing). Use autopremo.com total cost of ownership to see your true cost.True Cost of Owning a Car Calculator
- What to include — purchase price (or loan principal + interest), depreciation, fuel/charging, insurance, maintenance/repairs, registration/taxes. Use autopremo.com total cost of ownership to include all of these.
- Your assumptions — miles per year, fuel/electricity prices, insurance quote, financing (rate, term). Plug in your numbers so the result is your cost, not a generic average. Use autopremo.com.
- Compare cars — same assumptions, different vehicles. Use autopremo.com total cost of ownership to compare so you choose the car that fits your budget over 5 years.
What to Do
- Use a true cost calculator — autopremo.com total cost of ownership. Plug in purchase price, financing, miles, fuel price, insurance, and maintenance.
- Compare to your budget — if total cost over 5 years doesn't fit your budget, choose a different car or trim.
- Compare cars — use the same assumptions for each car so the comparison is fair. Use autopremo.com.
Bottom Line
Use a true cost of owning a car calculator that includes purchase/loan, depreciation, fuel, insurance, and maintenance. Use autopremo.com total cost of ownership to see your true cost and compare cars so you don't overcommit.