Car Cost Calculator Australia — Total Cost of Ownership
Calculate your true annual car costs including depreciation, compare EV vs petrol running costs, and decide whether to keep or replace your current vehicle.
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How to Use This Calculator
Tab "Annual TCO"
Enter your car purchase price, age of car, and annual km driven. The calculator estimates total annual cost including depreciation, fuel, and all running costs. Under "More options," adjust fuel consumption, fuel price, registration, CTP, comprehensive insurance, and servicing to match your actual costs. The result shows your cost per km and cost per day.
Tab "EV vs Petrol"
Compare the running costs of an electric vehicle against a petrol equivalent. Enter the purchase price of each, your annual km, and under "More options" adjust electricity cost, petrol price, and efficiency figures. See the annual fuel saving and how many years until the EV's higher purchase price is offset by lower running costs.
Tab "Keep vs Replace"
Wondering if it's time to replace your car? Enter your current car's value, annual repair costs, and the price of a replacement. The calculator compares the total annual cost of keeping your current car (repairs + depreciation + running costs) against the first-year cost of a new car (depreciation + running costs). A clear verdict tells you which option is cheaper.
The Formulas
Year 1: Purchase price x 20%
Years 2-5: Remaining value x 12%
Years 6+: Remaining value x 8%
Annual fuel cost:
Fuel cost = (Annual km / 100) x Consumption (L/100km) x Fuel price ($/L)
Total annual cost (TCO):
TCO = Depreciation + Fuel + Registration + CTP + Insurance + Servicing
EV fuel cost:
EV annual = (Efficiency kWh/100km / 100) x Annual km x (Electricity c/kWh / 100)
Break-even (EV vs Petrol):
Break-even years = (EV price - Petrol price) / Annual fuel saving
Keep vs Replace:
Cost to keep = Annual repairs + Current car depreciation + Running costs
Cost of new = New car depreciation (year 1) + Running costs
Depreciation rates are averages based on Australian market data. Actual depreciation varies significantly by make, model, condition, and market demand. Luxury cars and new cars depreciate faster; popular used cars (e.g., Toyota LandCruiser) depreciate slower.
Example
Mark — Drives a 2023 Toyota RAV4, purchased for $48,000
Car is 2 years old, drives 18,000 km/year. Fuel consumption 7.5 L/100km at $2.15/L. Registration $650, CTP $500, comprehensive insurance $1,600, servicing $900.
Mark's RAV4 costs him $10,485 per year or $0.58 per kilometre. Depreciation ($3,932) is the single biggest cost — more than fuel ($2,903). If he drove 25,000 km/year instead, his cost per km would drop to $0.50 because depreciation is a fixed cost regardless of distance.
Average Car Costs in Australia
| Cost Category | Typical Range (per year) |
|---|---|
| Depreciation (new car, year 1) | 15-25% of purchase price |
| Depreciation (years 2-5) | 10-15% of remaining value |
| Registration | $300 - $800 (varies by state) |
| CTP insurance (green slip) | $400 - $700 (varies by state) |
| Comprehensive insurance | $800 - $2,500 |
| Fuel (15,000 km @ 8L/100km @ $2.10/L) | ~$2,520 |
| Servicing & maintenance | $800 - $1,500 |
| Tyres (pro-rata) | $300 - $500 |
| Total (mid-range car) | $10,000 - $15,000 |