Know the real cost before you buy

Compare true ownership costs for any car — fuel, insurance, maintenance, depreciation and more. Make smarter car buying decisions.

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carcostly.com

Toyota Camry saves you $36,800 over 5 years

Car A
Toyota Camry 2022

Best deal
Tax
$2,100
Fuel
$8,400
Insurance
$8,250
Depreciation
$12,500
Total 5yr$52,400

Car B
BMW 3 Series 2022

Tax
$4,600
Fuel
$9,800
Insurance
$14,200
Depreciation
$28,100
Total 5yr$89,200

Most people only look at the sticker price

$28,000 → $67,000

Hidden costs add up fast

The average car costs 2–3x its purchase price to own over 5 years when you add fuel, insurance, maintenance and depreciation.

$1,200/yr difference

Insurance can shock you

A BMW 3 Series costs $1,200+ more per year to insure than a Honda Civic — same driver, same coverage, same state.

50% lost in 3 years

Some cars bleed value fast

Luxury European cars lose over half their value in 3 years. A Toyota Tacoma? Just 25%. The difference is $15,000+.

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Three steps to a smarter car decision

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Compare real costs

See a full 5-year cost breakdown and find out which car actually saves you money.

Everything you need to decide

True cost breakdown

Tax, fuel, insurance, maintenance and depreciation — all in one place

Real-time gas prices

Live fuel prices from the U.S. Energy Information Administration by state

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EV tax credits

See federal and state EV credits applied automatically to your total cost

Driver profile

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AI-powered cost analysis

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Built for real car decisions

Should I buy or keep my current car?

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Gas car vs electric vehicle

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New vs used car

Higher price or higher maintenance? Find out which choice saves more over 5 years.

Frequently asked questions

Practical answers about ownership costs, depreciation, and how CarCostly estimates the numbers.

The true cost of car ownership goes far beyond the purchase price. For an average $28,000 car, expect to pay $50,000-70,000 over 5 years when you factor in fuel ($8,000-12,000), insurance ($7,000-12,000), maintenance ($3,000-7,000), and depreciation ($10,000-20,000).

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