How much does it cost to own a car per month?

Owning a car costs much more than filling the tank. To estimate the real monthly cost, you need to include fuel, insurance, maintenance, taxes, inspections and depreciation.

Many people only think about fuel, but the real cost of a car can be much higher. A car that looks cheap to run may become expensive if insurance, repairs or depreciation are high.

Costs you should include

To calculate how much it really costs to own a car per month, it helps to separate visible expenses from costs that do not appear as a monthly bill but still matter.

• Fuel: depends on mileage, consumption and price per liter.
• Insurance: often paid yearly or every few months, but easier to understand as a monthly cost.
• Maintenance: servicing, oil, filters, brakes, tires and average repairs.
• Taxes and inspections: road tax, technical inspections and administrative costs.
• Depreciation: the loss of value of the car over time.
• Financing: interest or extra costs if the car was financed.

Example monthly car cost

Suppose a car drives 12,000 km per year, consumes 6.5 L/100 km and fuel costs €1.55/L. If we add insurance, maintenance, taxes and depreciation, the real cost may look like this:

In this example, the car does not cost only around €100 per month in fuel. The real cost is closer to €313 per month once all major costs are included.

Why depreciation matters

Depreciation is not a monthly bill, but it is real. If you buy a car for €25,000 and sell it years later for €15,000, that €10,000 difference is part of the cost of owning the car.

That is why comparing cars only by fuel consumption can be misleading. One car may use less fuel but lose value faster, while an older car may depreciate less but cost more in repairs.

Monthly cost vs cost per kilometer

Monthly cost helps you understand the impact of your car on your budget. Cost per kilometer helps you make specific decisions: whether a detour to a cheaper gas station is worth it, whether driving to another supermarket pays off, or how much an extra trip really costs.

If you want to calculate only the cost per kilometer, use the real cost per km calculator. If you want to know whether a cheaper gas station is worth the detour, use the gas station savings calculator.

How to reduce the real cost of a car

• Reduce unnecessary mileage.
• Compare insurance prices regularly.
• Plan maintenance and tires ahead.
• Avoid detours that do not really pay off.
• Choose cars with reasonable maintenance and depreciation.