Cost Per Mile Calculator
Add up fuel, insurance, maintenance and payments to find what each mile of driving really costs.
How it works
Cost per mile = (fuel + insurance + maintenance + payment) ÷ miles driven per year
True driving cost is more than fuel: it bundles insurance, upkeep and the payment into one per-mile figure. Add up a full year of each cost, divide by the miles you drive, and you get a number you can multiply against any trip. Fixed costs like insurance and the payment do not change with miles, so the more you drive, the lower your cost per mile.
Worked example
With $2,000 fuel, $1,600 insurance, $900 maintenance and a $7,200 yearly payment over 12,000 miles: total cost is $11,700, or about $0.98 per mile — roughly $975 a month. Drop the payment and it falls to about $0.38 per mile.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average cost to own a car per mile?
Widely cited estimates put the all-in cost of a typical new car around $0.70–$1.00 per mile once depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel and upkeep are included. Older paid-off cars can be far cheaper.
Should I include depreciation?
For a complete picture, yes — depreciation is often the single largest cost of ownership. This tool focuses on cash outlays; add an estimate of yearly depreciation to the maintenance field to fold it in.
Why does driving more lower the cost per mile?
Insurance and the loan payment cost the same whether you drive 5,000 or 20,000 miles. Spreading those fixed costs over more miles brings the per-mile average down.
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This calculator is for educational purposes. Double-check important results before acting on them.