Free tool

5-year car cost calculator

Compare two cars by what they'd really cost you over five years. The example compares a new car with a 3-year-old version of the same model; replace the numbers with your own quotes.

Miles per year Fuel price ($ per gallon)

Car A Price, out the door ($) Down payment and trade-in ($) Loan APR (%) Loan term (months) Combined MPG (0 for an EV) Insurance per year ($) Maintenance and repairs per year ($) Other yearly costs: registration, charging ($) Estimated value after 5 years ($)

Car B Price, out the door ($) Down payment and trade-in ($) Loan APR (%) Loan term (months) Combined MPG (0 for an EV) Insurance per year ($) Maintenance and repairs per year ($) Other yearly costs: registration, charging ($) Estimated value after 5 years ($)

Car A

$39,291

$655 a month · $0.65 a mile

Depreciation: $13,800
Loan interest: $4,941
Fuel: $6,800
Insurance: $8,200
Maintenance: $4,300
Other: $1,250

Car B

$34,778

$580 a month · $0.58 a mile

Depreciation: $10,200
Loan interest: $4,228
Fuel: $6,800
Insurance: $7,400
Maintenance: $4,900
Other: $1,250

Car B costs about $4,513 less over five years.

Estimates only. Total = what you pay over five years (down payment, loan payments and any balance left at five years, fuel, insurance, maintenance and other costs) minus the estimated value after five years. Get real figures: out-the-door quotes, a loan pre-approval, insurance quotes and used-car prices from several pricing guides.