Independent car cost tools
Know what a car really costs to own — before you buy.
Compare ownership cost, payments and cash paid. Keep unknown fees visible, then take a fillable worksheet to check the real quotes.
Compare a lease quote →See an actual worksheet ↓
Free calculators · No sign-up or document upload
Try the 5-Year TCO Calculator
Enter your vehicle details to model five years of depreciation, interest, fuel, insurance, maintenance and fees. Keep missing fees visible until you can confirm them.
Start with your buying budget
Use a written vehicle price and your own insurance quote where possible. Starting figures below are examples.
5-Year Modeled Ownership Cost
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Enter your inputs to estimate the 5-year cost.
Cost breakdown
All figures are 5-year totals (estimates).
Show year-by-year breakdown
| Year | Depreciation | Interest | Fuel | Insurance | Maintenance | Fees & Tax |
|---|
These are scenarios based on your inputs, including the editable depreciation percentages and flat annual running costs. Actual costs vary by make, model, condition, location, driving behaviour, and market conditions. Use this tool for directional comparison only. Verify insurance with quotes and registration fees with your state DMV.
Compare up to 3 vehicles
Compare two or three illustrative vehicles using the same annual miles, down payment, APR, loan term, fee and depreciation assumptions above. Change each vehicle's sample price and running costs to your own figures.
Vehicle A
Vehicle B
Vehicle C
Residual estimates use the depreciation percentages you enter, not KBB or dealer-proprietary values. Insurance and maintenance figures are sample budgets; replace them with your own quotes and expected costs.
An actual exported worksheet
Keep the estimate.
Bring back the real quote.
A lower monthly payment is only one part of the comparison. Keep the costs, missing fees and questions together while you check each offer.
- Compare the same five years
- Ownership cost, loan payments, cash paid and ending equity appear as separate lines.
- Record what the quote confirms
- Each car gets editable fields for actual amounts, their sources and dates. A blank answer stays unknown.
- Update the calculation
- Re-enter confirmed figures in the calculator. Writing in the PDF does not recalculate its totals.
About this example
Exported September 11, 2026 from the calculator’s Gas SUV and Hybrid sedan examples, with the third vehicle off. Shared inputs: 12,000 miles/year, $5,000 down, 6.5% APR, 60-month loan, depreciation of 20% then 15% annually. Taxes and fees are blank and excluded. These are demonstration assumptions, not real offers or a recommendation.
Choose the comparison you need
5-Year True Cost of Ownership Calculator
Open calculatorStart withVehicle prices, mileage, running costs and financing.
Use the result toCompare 1–3 cars. Keep a fillable quote worksheet.
Lease vs. Buy Calculator
Open calculatorStart withLease signing cash and payments; a purchase quote.
Use the result toCompare cash paid, remaining debt and resale equity over the same term.
Auto Loan & Refinance Calculator
Open calculatorStart withLoan amount, rate and term; current loan for refinancing.
Use the result toSee payments, total interest and the amortization schedule.
Car rankings that affect your costs
All 32 rankings →Reliability, safety, longevity, depreciation, and efficiency — each list transcribed from a primary authority (J.D. Power, IIHS, iSeeCars, EPA) and read through the cost-of-ownership lens.
Car costs by state
All 50 states + D.C. →Sales-tax rate, annual registration, vehicle property tax, and inspection requirements — each state cited to its official source.
Car cost guides
All guides →A step-by-step breakdown of every cost category — depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, maintenance, and fees.
Read the guide →Lease vs. buy: which is cheaper?Reconcile lease signing cash and deposit refunds, then compare purchase cash paid, debt and resale equity over the same term.
Read the guide →EV vs. gas: 5-year cost comparisonElectricity vs. gasoline, depreciation differences, and the real break-even on an EV premium.
Read the guide →Explore ownership costs
Continue with model research, state fees and the assumptions behind your comparison.
Check the source and its date
State and vehicle pages cite their source records. Check the page’s date, coverage and unknown fields before using them for a purchase.
Calculations stay on your device
Saved summaries remain on this device; shared links include your scenario. Optional email requests and page analytics have separate data handling. Read the privacy policy.
Independent estimates
We do not sell cars or arrange financing. Any partner link is labeled. Your written quotes and confirmed local fees belong in the final comparison.
Frequently asked questions
What is true cost of car ownership (TCO)?
True cost of ownership is the total you'll spend on a vehicle over a given period — not just the purchase price. It includes depreciation (the value lost), financing interest, fuel or charging costs, insurance, routine maintenance, and state fees like sales tax, registration, and property tax. Over 5 years, ownership costs often exceed the original purchase price.
Does CarOutlay sell cars or earn commissions?
No. CarOutlay is an independent information publisher. We don't sell cars, arrange loans, or work for dealers. We're not compensated based on which vehicle or lender you choose. When we link to a partner, it's clearly labeled, and it never influences our estimates or rankings.
Where do your state fee numbers come from?
Each state record cites the official source — the state DMV, department of revenue, or motor vehicle office — along with the date we reviewed it. States we haven't finished source-verifying are shown as clearly flagged estimates and kept out of search until confirmed.
Is my data stored or shared?
Calculations run in your browser. A comparison summary may be saved on this device, and share links contain the entered scenario. Optional email forms send the address and request to CarOutlay; hosting and analytics process page requests. See the privacy policy for details.
How does the calculator estimate resale value?
The example curve loses 20% of the purchase price in year one, then 15% of remaining value each year. You can change both assumptions. This curve is a scenario, not a forecast for a particular car. Depreciation is counted as a cost; the purchase price and loan principal are not added again.
Get the car ownership cost checklist
A free, plain-English guide to every cost you'll face owning a car — plus occasional updates when state registration fees or tax rules change. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. We never share your email.