Know What Your Car Is Costing You

by Joel Fink

Do you know what your car is costing you? Or the most expensive thing about owning a car? If not, you should. Here’s what you should know.

Let’s talk cars.

What is the most expensive thing about owning a car?

Is it the insurance? How about gasoline or interest on your loan? What about those expensive repairs and maintenance?

The High Cost of Depreciation

Turns out that the most expensive thing about owning a car is depreciation. Depreciation is a fancy word for how much the car declines in value over time. Unfortunately, a car starts declining in value immediately after you buy it.

According to LendingTree.com, a new car will lose about 20% of its value in its first year. It will them about 40% by the fifth year.

To put that into dollars, let’s say you pay $30,000 for a new, moderately priced four-door sedan. The car will be worth about $24,000 at the end of the first year. The cost just to own the car (i.e., the depreciation) for the first year is $6,000 (20% x $30,000). Remember that the depreciation cost is in addition to all the other costs of owning a car like gasoline, auto insurance, parking fees, interest on the car loan, and repairs and maintenance.

Sign Up for Savings

Subscribe to get money-saving content by email that can help you stretch your dollars further.

Twice each week, you'll receive articles and tips that can help you free up and keep more of your hard-earned money, even on the tightest of budgets.

We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.

1. Do your research before you buy a car.

Look for reasonably priced cars that fit your needs with good “total cost of ownership ratings,” including things like gas mileage, dependability, and maintenance.

2. Talk to your auto insurance company before you buy.

Ask them what the insurance rates will be on the model and year of the cars that you are considering. If you feel like your insurance rates are high, don’t be afraid to shop around with other insurance companies or talk to an independent insurance agent.

3. Consider buying a gently-used car.

Since the depreciation is highest in the first couple of years, you can save on the purchase price of a car that is one or two years old.

You need to weigh buying a used car versus a new one since the potential for higher repair and maintenance costs increase as the car gets older.

Also, new cars often come with warranties, although you can sometimes get warranties on used cars as well, at least up to the level that was offered on the car when it was new.

4. Keep the car as long as you can.

Although the repairs and maintenance can be more expensive on older cars, the depreciation cost will be very low in those years. Also, you may have (hopefully) paid off that car loan by then, so you can enjoy at least of few years with no car payments.

Cars are an expensive necessity for many of us. Taking the time to make a good purchase, driving the car as long as possible, and doing all you can to keep your insurance rates low will help keep those car expenses in line.

Reviewed July 2023

About the Author

Joel Fink is a retired CPA and financial services executive living in Dallas, Texas. He enjoys writing articles that help real people with simple ideas to manage their money and improve their lives.

Wouldn't you like to be a Stretcher too?

Subscribe to get our money-saving content twice per week by email and start living better for less.