Free Online Calculators
True car cost per km & month: depreciation, fuel, insurance
This calculator reveals the true cost of owning a car — going beyond fuel to include depreciation, insurance, tax, and maintenance. All running costs are broken down into a clear cost per kilometre and per month. It's the honest number most car owners never bother to calculate.
The monthly payment depends on the interest rate, your down payment and any trade-in value, so a single figure can't be quoted for the loan amount alone. Enter the price, deposit, rate and term to see the exact payment plus the total interest you'd pay over the loan.
That depends entirely on the annual percentage rate and how much you put down — a longer term lowers the monthly payment but raises the total interest. Put the price, deposit and rate into the calculator to get the payment and the full cost of credit.
The 20% rule says you should pay a fifth of the purchase price up front in cash, which reduces the amount financed and helps you avoid owing more than the car is worth. It's usually quoted as part of a wider guideline that also caps the loan term and the share of your income spent on the payment.
Affordability is judged by whether the monthly payment, insurance, fuel, tax and maintenance fit comfortably within your take-home pay after housing and other debts, not by the sticker price alone. Work out the full monthly running cost first, then compare it with a small share of your net income.
Base the limit on what you can pay each month rather than on salary alone: add up the loan payment, insurance, fuel, servicing and depreciation and keep that total to a modest slice of your monthly net income. Then work backwards from that monthly ceiling to a purchase price.
A higher salary raises the ceiling, but the deciding factors are your other fixed costs, existing debt payments and how much you can put down. Set a comfortable monthly budget covering finance, insurance, fuel and maintenance, then convert it into a price using your loan rate and term.
The end of the month, quarter or calendar year is generally the best time, because dealers work to sales targets and are more willing to discount. Buying a model that has just been replaced by a new generation, or a convertible in winter, also tends to lower the price.
There's no single model — the better approach is to set a monthly limit for finance, insurance, fuel and servicing, then shortlist cars whose total running costs fit. Small and compact models with low insurance groups and good fuel economy usually leave the most room in a mid-range budget.
Owning a car involves far more than just the purchase price. The Car Cost Calculator at Simple Calculator helps you discover the true cost per kilometre and per month of running your vehicle — including depreciation, fuel, insurance, tax and maintenance. Stop guessing and start making informed financial decisions about your car.
Most drivers dramatically underestimate their total vehicle costs because they only think about fuel. Our calculator takes a comprehensive approach, covering every major expense category:
Using the tool is straightforward. Start by entering your vehicle details: purchase price, current resale value and your estimated annual mileage. Next, input your running costs — fuel consumption per 100 km (or per litre/mpg), the current fuel price, and your monthly insurance premium.
In the final step, add fixed costs such as annual road tax, estimated yearly servicing costs and any finance repayments. The calculator instantly computes your total monthly expenditure and your precise cost per kilometre, presented in a clear, itemised breakdown so you can see exactly where your money goes.
Let's look at a typical scenario. A Ford Focus purchased new for £25,000, driven 12,000 miles per year. Annual depreciation: approximately £3,000. Fuel costs at 40 mpg and £1.55/litre: around £1,680. Add insurance (£700), road tax (£180), servicing (£500) and finance interest (£750). Total annual cost: approximately £6,810 — or £567 per month, which works out to roughly £0.57 per mile. Many drivers would be surprised to learn the real figure is this high.
Understanding the full cost of car ownership empowers you to make smarter choices. The Car Cost Calculator is invaluable in several situations:
The calculator is perfect for comparing electric vehicles against internal combustion engine cars. While an EV typically has a higher purchase price, fuel (electricity) costs can be up to 70% lower per kilometre. Servicing requirements are also reduced — no oil changes, fewer brake replacements. Enter both scenarios and compare side by side to see which genuinely works out cheaper for your driving habits.
Once you know where your money is going, you can take targeted action:
All annual costs (depreciation, fuel, insurance, tax, maintenance, finance) are added together and divided by your total annual mileage. Our calculator does this automatically as you enter your figures, giving you an instant result.
For a typical mid-size family car, costs range between £0.35 and £0.65 per kilometre depending on the vehicle, driving patterns and location. Smaller cars are naturally cheaper; luxury vehicles or large SUVs can exceed £1.00 per km.
It depends on the deal and your circumstances. Leasing offers predictable monthly costs but no asset at the end. Use the calculator to input your lease payments and residual value to compare directly with a purchase scenario.
Absolutely. Business users can also factor in tax deductions on allowable expenses. The calculator provides the key figures needed to support accurate business mileage and cost reporting.
We recommend reviewing your figures annually, or whenever there's a significant change — such as a jump in fuel prices, a new insurance policy, or after a major repair. Regular reviews keep your budget accurate and up to date.