Total Cost of Owning a $25,000 Car for 3 Years
Calculate all costs of owning a $25,000 car over just 3 years — useful if you plan to trade in or sell soon.
How to use this tool
- Enter the purchase price and expected resale value.
- Enter how many years you'll own the car.
- Add total finance interest (0 if paying cash).
- Enter annual fuel, insurance, maintenance, and fees.
- Read the total cost and the average per year and per month.
Planning to keep your car only 3 years? Calculate the full ownership cost to see if short-term ownership makes financial sense.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the total cost of owning a car?
- It's depreciation plus financing interest plus all operating costs (fuel, insurance, maintenance, fees) over the years you keep the car. For a typical new car, AAA estimates roughly $10,000-$12,000 per year.
- Why is depreciation the biggest cost?
- A new car can lose 40-50% of its value in five years. Because that loss is built into the price you paid, it's a real cost even though you never write a check for it — usually the single largest ownership expense.
- How can I lower my total cost of ownership?
- Buy a model that holds its value, keep the car longer to spread depreciation, pay cash or finance cheaply, shop insurance, and stay on top of maintenance to avoid major repairs.