Annual Mileage Cost Calculator
Combine fuel and per-mile maintenance to see what a year of driving really costs — and your true cost per mile.
How it works
Fuel = miles ÷ MPG × price · Upkeep = miles × per-mile rate · Total = fuel + upkeep · Cost/mile = total ÷ miles
Running cost is more than fuel: tires, oil, brakes and repairs all scale with distance, so this adds a per-mile upkeep rate on top of the pump bill. The result excludes depreciation, insurance and registration, which are largely fixed rather than per-mile — the full IRS operating rate is much higher once those are folded in. Cost per mile is the number to carry into mileage-reimbursement, delivery-side-gig and long-commute decisions.
Worked example
At 12,000 miles and 28 mpg you burn about 428 gallons — $1,500 at $3.50/gal. Adding 10¢/mile of maintenance ($1,200) gives $2,700 a year, or about 22.5¢ per mile before depreciation.
Frequently asked questions
Why doesn’t this include depreciation?
Depreciation depends on the car’s value and age, not just miles, so it is kept out to give a clean running cost. The full cost of ownership is typically two to three times this figure once depreciation, insurance and registration are added.
What per-mile maintenance rate should I use?
Roughly 8–15¢ per mile for a typical modern car covering oil, tires, brakes and routine repairs. Older or luxury vehicles run higher; a car under warranty runs lower.
Is this a good number for tax reimbursement?
It shows your out-of-pocket running cost, but IRS standard mileage reimbursement uses a single blended rate that also covers depreciation — check the current official rate for tax purposes.
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This calculator is for educational purposes. Double-check important results before acting on them.