সারাংশ
The true cost of running a car in the UK goes well beyond fuel. Depreciation, insurance, road tax (VED), MOT, servicing, tyres, and optional costs like parking and finance payments all contribute to the total. The average UK driver spends around £3,500/year on car running costs (excluding finance), according to NimbleFins (2026). Including depreciation on a typical 3-year-old car, this rises to around £3,800/year.
এটি কীভাবে কাজ করে
The calculator sums all cost categories — some are fixed annual costs (insurance, road tax, MOT), some are usage-based (fuel), and some depend on the car’s value (depreciation). Optional costs like finance payments, parking, and breakdown cover are included only when the user adds them.
Cost categories
| Category | Type | How it’s calculated |
|---|---|---|
| Depreciation | Value-based | Car value × depreciation rate for car age |
| Fuel / Energy | Usage-based | Annual mileage ÷ MPG × litres per gallon × price per litre |
| Insurance | Fixed | User-entered annual premium |
| Road tax (VED) | Fixed | User-entered annual amount |
| MOT | Fixed | User-entered annual cost |
| Servicing & repairs | Fixed | User-entered annual estimate |
| Tyres | Fixed | User-entered annual estimate |
| Finance payments | Optional | Monthly payment × 12 |
| Parking | Optional | Monthly cost × 12 |
| Breakdown cover | Optional | User-entered annual cost |
| Washing & cleaning | Optional | Monthly cost × 12 |
সূত্র
Fuel cost (petrol/diesel)
Where
Fuel cost (electric)
Where
Depreciation
Where
Depreciation rates by car age
Based on industry data from Carwow, AA, and AutoExpress. These are averages — actual depreciation varies by make, model, mileage, and condition.
| Car age | Rate (next year) | Cumulative value retained |
|---|---|---|
| New → 1 year | 20% | 80% |
| 1 → 2 years | 15% | 68% |
| 2 → 3 years | 12% | 60% |
| 3 → 4 years | 8% | 55% |
| 4 → 5 years | 7% | 51% |
| 5 → 6 years | 6% | 48% |
| 6 → 7 years | 5% | 46% |
| 7 → 8 years | 4% | 44% |
| 8 → 9 years | 3% | 43% |
| 9 → 10 years | 3% | 41% |
| 10+ years | 2% | Floor rate |
Total cost
Where
সমাধান করা উদাহরণ
Average UK car: 3-year-old petrol hatchback, £15,000 value
Depreciation (age 3, rate 8%)
= £1,200
Fuel (7,100 miles, 40 MPG, 131.6p/L)
= £1,062
Insurance
= £726
Road tax (VED standard rate)
= £195
MOT
= £55
Servicing & repairs
= £300
Tyres
= £100
Washing (£15/month)
= £180
Result
Total annual cost = £3,818 (£318/month, 54p per mile)
This aligns with industry averages: NimbleFins reports £3,484/year (excluding car wash costs) and Marsh Finance reports £3,580/year.
UK defaults
| Input | Default | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Car value | £15,000 | Typical 3-year-old used car |
| Car age | 3 years | Midpoint of common ownership |
| Annual mileage | 7,100 miles | DfT National Travel Survey 2024 |
| Petrol price | 132p/L | RAC Fuel Watch (Feb 2026, rounded) |
| Diesel price | 141p/L | RAC Fuel Watch (Feb 2026, rounded) |
| Electricity | 28p/kWh | Ofgem price cap Q1 2026, rounded |
| Insurance | £726/yr | Confused.com Price Index (Jan 2026) |
| Road tax (VED) | £195/yr | Gov.uk standard rate 2025/26 |
| MOT | £55/yr | Gov.uk maximum fee (£54.85 rounded) |
| Servicing | £300/yr | Industry average (NimbleFins, RAC) |
| Tyres | £100/yr | ~1 tyre replacement/year average |
অনুমান এবং সীমাবদ্ধতা
- Depreciation is an estimate. Actual depreciation depends on make, model, condition, mileage, and market conditions. The rates used are industry averages and may not match any specific car.
- Fuel prices change frequently. The defaults reflect a point-in-time snapshot from RAC Fuel Watch. Users should enter their actual fuel cost for accurate results.
- Insurance varies enormously by age, location, driving history, and vehicle. The £726 default is a national average; young drivers pay significantly more.
- Road tax (VED) uses the standard rate for cars registered after April 2017. Cars registered before this date, and cars with high CO2 emissions, may pay different amounts. The expensive car supplement (additional £410/year for cars with a list price over £40,000) is not modelled separately.
- Servicing costs increase with age. The £300 default is an average; newer cars under warranty may cost less, while older cars may cost more.
- The calculator does not model congestion charges, toll roads, car club costs, or depreciation from accident history.
যাচাই
| Test case | Inputs | Expected total | Calculator output | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average UK car | £15k, 3yr, 7,100mi, 40mpg petrol | ~£3,500–4,000/yr | £3,818/yr | NimbleFins: £3,484 (excl. wash) |
| New expensive car | £40k, new, 12,000mi, 35mpg petrol | ~£10,000–14,000/yr | £12,046/yr | Select Car Leasing range |
| Cheap old diesel | £3k, 10yr, 5,000mi, 45mpg diesel | ~£1,500–2,500/yr | £1,901/yr | Low-cost motoring estimate |