Car Running Costs Calculator 2026 (UK)
Estimate how much your car costs to operate each month and year.
Estimated Running Costs
Your Mileage Estimate
Car Running Costs Calculator
This calculator estimates the ongoing operating cost of running a car in the UK. It can include finance payments, fuel or electricity, insurance, vehicle tax, servicing, repairs, tyres, MOT, breakdown cover, parking, permits, road charges and other regular expenses.
Unlike a total cost of ownership calculator, this tool does not attempt to calculate depreciation, resale value or the original purchase price of the vehicle.
What does it cost to run a car?
The cost of running a car depends on how much you drive and the expenses associated with your particular vehicle and circumstances. Fuel, insurance, vehicle tax, servicing, repairs, tyres and parking can all contribute to the total.
Estimating fuel costs
You can enter your annual mileage directly or estimate it from the number of miles you drive each day, the number of driving days per week and the number of weeks you drive each year.
Fuel economy
For petrol, diesel and hybrid vehicles, enter your approximate miles per gallon (MPG). For electric vehicles, enter your estimated miles per kWh and your electricity price.
Finance payments
If your car is financed, you can include your monthly payment in the calculation. This calculator treats finance as a cash running cost rather than attempting to calculate depreciation or the underlying value of the vehicle.
Running Costs, Not Total Ownership Cost
This calculator is designed to answer a simple question: how much does this car cost me to run? It does not include depreciation, resale value or other ownership-cost calculations. You can use this calculator to check your ownership costs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about calculating the cost of running a car in the UK.
1. What is included in car running costs?
Running costs can include fuel or electricity, insurance, vehicle tax, servicing, repairs, tyres, MOT, breakdown cover, parking, permits, road charges and other regular expenses.
2. Does this calculator include car finance?
Yes. You can enter your monthly car finance payment and it will be included in the monthly and annual running-cost estimate.
3. Does this include depreciation?
No. This is an operating-cost calculator rather than a total cost of ownership calculator. Depreciation and resale value are not included.
4. Can I calculate fuel costs from daily mileage?
Yes. Enter your average daily mileage, driving days per week and weeks driven per year. The calculator will estimate your annual mileage automatically.
5. Can I calculate electric car running costs?
Yes. Select Electric Vehicle and enter your estimated miles per kWh and electricity price. The calculator will estimate your annual charging cost.
6. Can I include parking?
Yes. You can enter regular parking costs as a monthly expense and parking permits as an annual expense.
7. Can I include MOT and servicing?
Yes. Enter your expected annual MOT, servicing and repair costs. These are converted into monthly equivalents for the overall running-cost calculation.
8. What about tyres?
Tyres can be included as an estimated annual cost. This can be useful because tyre replacement is an expense that does not necessarily occur every month.
9. Should I include PCNs?
You can. Enter an estimated number of PCNs per year and an average cost. PCNs are displayed separately because they are unpredictable and are not a normal operating expense.
10. What is the cost per mile?
Cost per mile divides the estimated annual running cost by your estimated annual mileage. It provides a useful way to compare the operating cost of different vehicles.
11. Does vehicle tax vary in the UK?
Yes. Vehicle tax depends on factors including the vehicle's registration date and other vehicle characteristics. Use your actual annual VED figure where possible.
12. Are these exact costs?
No. The calculator produces an estimate based on the figures you enter. Actual fuel consumption, insurance, maintenance, repairs, parking and other costs can vary significantly.