What it costs to get around. Price a vehicle plan on the Calculator, keep today's real costs in My As-Is, and let Compare judge the swap.
Scenario
Vehicles
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Passes & rides
Calculator · cash per month
$0/mo
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Financing$0
Insurance$0
Fuel$0
Maintenance$0
Passes & rides$0
Cash out of pocket$0
Depreciation non-cash · value lost$0
True monthly cost$0
Cash / year
$0
Depreciation / yr
$0
Ways to get around
0
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The left column is example data. Set up My As-Is → to compare your real numbers.
My As-Is Today
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$0
Vehicle costs$0
Passes & rides$0
Depreciation$0
True cost / mo$0
Calculator Planned
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$0
Vehicle costs$0
Passes & rides$0
Depreciation$0
True cost / mo$0
Calculator vs My As-Is · monthly cash
$0
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How it works
What a car really costs to own
The sticker price and the monthly payment are only part of what a car takes from you. This car cost calculator adds up the cash that actually leaves your account each month — financing, insurance, fuel, maintenance, and any transit passes or rideshare — so even a paid-off car shows its real running cost rather than zero.
Cash vs. depreciation
There is a second cost you never write a check for: depreciation, the value your vehicle quietly loses over time. We show it separately (roughly 18%/yr when new, 12% used, 8% older) instead of hiding it in the headline, because it is real money but not a bill. Your true monthly cost is the cash plus that silent loss.
Every vehicle, side by side
Add as many cars, motorcycles, or transit lines as you actually use and the calculator totals them, so a two-car household sees the whole picture instead of guessing at it.
It feeds your wider picture
Your auto insurance flows to the Insurance calculator and your total transport cost into your Budget, so getting around is counted once, in context.
Use it to decide, not just tally
The real value of a true monthly cost is comparison. Put your current car next to a cheaper one, a used model beside a new one, or driving against a transit pass, and the honest all-in numbers — cash plus depreciation — tell you which actually costs less, rather than which has the smaller sticker or monthly payment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the true cost of owning a car?
It is the cash you spend each month — payment, insurance, fuel, and maintenance — plus depreciation, the value the car loses over time. Adding the two gives a far more honest monthly figure than the loan payment alone.
Why does my paid-off car still cost money?
Because the loan is only one expense. Insurance, fuel, and maintenance continue after it is paid off, and the car keeps depreciating, just more slowly. The calculator shows those ongoing costs instead of dropping to zero.
What is car depreciation, and how is it estimated?
Depreciation is the value a vehicle loses as it ages. This tool estimates it by age band — about 18% a year when new, 12% used, and 8% for older vehicles — and reports it separately from your cash costs.
Should I include fuel and maintenance in my car budget?
Yes. They are recurring cash costs that often add up to more than people expect, so leaving them out understates what driving really costs you each month.
Is it cheaper to own a new or used car?
Used cars usually lose value more slowly in dollar terms, but financing, repairs, and insurance vary widely. Model both here and compare the true monthly cost rather than the sticker price.
How much should I spend on transportation?
A common guideline keeps transportation under about 15% of take-home pay, but it is personal. See how your number fits the rest of your plan in your Budget.
The CuraMoneta system
Useful on its own. Powerful together.
This calculator works on its own — but it shares your numbers with eight more. Together, they become a command center for your whole financial picture.