How much it costs to own a car per month
The cost goes far beyond fuel. Insurance, taxes, maintenance, loan payments and small everyday expenses add up every month. Get an estimate here and track the actual cost in Drivvo.
- Monthly cost calculator, no sign-up
- Car loan and insurance split month by month
- Cost per day and per km in the app's reports
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Vehicle cost calculator
Enter what you spend. Yearly costs are divided by 12 and added to monthly costs. Leave blank anything that does not apply.
Result
Enter at least one cost to see the total.
This is an estimate based on the numbers you entered. In Drivvo, the actual cost comes from your records, month by month.
What goes into the cost of owning a car
A car's costs fall into three groups. If you only add up fuel, you'll think the car costs much less than it does.
Fixed costs
Insurance, vehicle taxes and fees, loan EMIs and parking at home. You pay them even if the car stays parked.
Variable costs
Fuel, maintenance, tyres, parking, tolls, car washes and fines. They increase the more you drive.
Depreciation
Your car loses value every year. You don't pay this cost each month, but you see it when you sell the car.
How to calculate your car's monthly cost
- Add up yearly costs, such as insurance and taxes, and divide by 12.
- Add up a typical month's costs: fuel, loan EMI, parking and other expenses.
- Add the two amounts. That's your monthly cost.
- For the cost per km, divide the cost for a period by the distance driven in that period.
Always use the same period. A month with servicing or new tyres costs more; the yearly average shows the true cost.
How to record your costs in Drivvo
Record each cost as it happens, on your phone or computer. The app adds everything up and groups it by type.
Record the expense
In Expense, select one or more expense types, each with its own amount. The Total cost is calculated automatically. Adding the discount, payment method and place helps keep things organised.
Split it into instalments
For a car loan or insurance, enter the total amount, the Instalments and the Period. Each instalment counts in the month it's due, and the app shows how much you've paid and how much is left.
See where your money goes
In Reports, the Expense tab shows the total, the amount per day and per km, and a chart for each month.
Car loan, insurance and taxes in instalments
Paying for insurance in 6 instalments should not make the first month look more expensive than the others. In Drivvo, the total is split into up to 99 instalments, payable weekly, fortnightly or monthly, and each one counts in the month it is due.
- Each month's cost is accurate, with no spike in the month you paid
- The expense screen shows the instalments paid and those remaining
- It also works on the Free plan
- To remember the renewal, create a reminder that repeats every year
Where your vehicle expenses go
The app's reports answer questions a calculator cannot, using your actual figures.
- How much the vehicle cost you in a month, a year or any period you choose
- The share of fuel, expenses and services in the total
- Each month's cost, side by side with previous months
- The types of expenses that cost the most, such as insurance or parking
- The cost per day and per km
Cost per km: compare months and vehicles
The total cost changes depending on how much you drive. The cost per km shows how much each km driven costs and lets you compare different months or two vehicles. Drivvo calculates it automatically from the odometer readings in your records.
Car expense spreadsheet or app
Prefer to write it down? Print the template, note every cost for the month and add them up at the end. It already has columns and a monthly summary.
A spreadsheet only adds up what you enter later. In the app, each cost is logged on the spot, and the cost per month, per day and per km appears automatically. If you already have a spreadsheet, Drivvo support can import the data into the app. To take your records to a spreadsheet, data export is included in the paid plans.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to own a car per month?
There is no single figure: it depends on the car, how much you drive, and the insurance and taxes where you live. Add the yearly costs divided by 12 to the costs of a normal month. The calculator on this page works it out, and Drivvo shows the actual figure from your records.
What are the costs of owning a car?
Fixed costs, such as insurance, taxes, loan repayments and parking at home; variable costs, such as fuel, maintenance, tyres, parking, tolls and fines; and the car's loss of value over time.
What do you pay for a car every year?
Usually insurance and vehicle taxes and fees, which vary by country, plus scheduled servicing. Divide the total by 12 to know how much to set aside each month, and create a reminder so you do not miss the date.
How do I calculate my car's cost per km?
Divide the cost for the period by the distance driven in the same period. In Drivvo, the cost per km appears in the reports, calculated from the odometer readings in your records.
How much do I need to earn to own a car?
It depends on what your car costs. Start with the actual monthly cost, including yearly costs divided by 12, and see how much of your income it takes.
Is owning a car worth it?
Compare the car's monthly cost with alternatives such as public transport, cab-hailing apps or hiring a car. The calculator gives you a figure, and the app tracks it month by month.
How do I log a car loan or insurance in instalments?
Create an expense with the total amount and enter the instalments, the period and the first instalment. Each instalment counts in the month it is due. It also works on the Free plan.
How do I see how much I spent on my car this month?
In Reports, choose the current month in the period filter. In History, each month has a summary of spending, distance and mileage.
Can I track my car expenses in a spreadsheet?
Yes. The template on this page can be printed or saved as a PDF. In the app, the calculations are done for you. If you already use a spreadsheet, Drivvo support can import the data; exporting to a spreadsheet is part of the paid plans.
Which app tracks vehicle costs?
Drivvo brings expenses, refuelling and services together in one account and shows the cost per month, per day and per km. It works for cars, motorcycles and trucks, on Android, iPhone and the Web.
Is Drivvo free?
The Free plan lets you log unlimited expenses, refuelling and services, with instalments and reports, for up to 2 active vehicles, with ads. Paid plans remove ads and unlock more vehicles, data export and attachments.
Can I see the costs of two cars together?
In the app, reports show one vehicle at a time. On the Web, the All option adds up the costs for all vehicles and shows them side by side.
Start with your next expense
Download Drivvo, log your vehicle costs and see what it really costs, month by month.
Want to track mileage and maintenance too? See everything Drivvo does for personal use