Example report
Three vehicles, one journey, and every figure explained. This is how a downloadable TrueTravelCost report looks.
A comprehensive report compares up to three vehicles on the same journey and shows how each result was calculated, so you can check the workings rather than take a number on trust.
The report below is an example using fictional figures. It is laid out as it would appear in the PDF you download.
TrueTravelCost
Munich to Milan · 493 km · one-way
Example report All figures in this report are fictional and for illustration only.
The Toyota Corolla Hybrid has the lowest true cost: €179.85 for the journey, or €0.36 per km.
That is €31.17 less than the BMW 320d and €21.48 less than the Volkswagen ID.4 on a single one-way trip. Across 12 round trips a year the gap to the cheapest vehicle is €748.08 for the BMW and €515.52 for the ID.4.
| Vehicle | Fuel or energy only | True journey cost | Cost per km |
|---|---|---|---|
| A · BMW 320d | €51.11 | €211.02 | €0.43 |
| B · Volkswagen ID.4 Pro | €41.41 | €201.33 | €0.41 |
| C · Toyota Corolla Hybrid | €48.04 | €179.85 | €0.36 |
The same journey is used for every vehicle, so the results are directly comparable.
| Route | Munich to Milan |
|---|---|
| Distance | 493 km one-way (986 km round trip) |
| Journey type | One-way, with round-trip and annual figures on page 6 |
| Tolls and charges | €48.00 per one-way journey, standard car class, applied equally to all vehicles |
| Price date | 29 September 2026 (illustrative) |
Every number used in the calculations on page 5 comes from this table.
| Input | A · BMW 320d | B · VW ID.4 Pro | C · Corolla Hybrid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Energy type | Diesel | Electricity | Petrol (hybrid) |
| ConsumptionReal-world, mixed motorway | 6.4 L/100 km | 20.0 kWh/100 km | 5.6 L/100 km |
| Energy price | €1.62 per L | €0.42 per kWh40% home at €0.30, 60% public at €0.50 | €1.74 per L |
| MaintenanceServicing and repairs | €640 per 10,000 km | €420 per 10,000 km | €500 per 10,000 km |
| TyresCost of a set and expected life | €780 per set, 30,000 km | €900 per set, 30,000 km | €660 per set, 30,000 km |
| Purchase price | €46,000 | €52,000 | €30,000 |
| Mileage-related depreciationValue lost per 100,000 km driven | €13,700 | €15,500 | €9,800 |
Per one-way journey, in euros.
| Cost | A · BMW 320d | B · VW ID.4 Pro | C · Corolla Hybrid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel or energy | 51.11 | 41.41 | 48.04 |
| Tolls | 48.00 | 48.00 | 48.00 |
| Maintenance | 31.55 | 20.71 | 24.65 |
| Tyres | 12.82 | 14.79 | 10.85 |
| Depreciation and vehicle wear | 67.54 | 76.42 | 48.31 |
| Total estimated journey cost | 211.02 | 201.33 | 179.85 |
| Estimated cost per km | 0.43 | 0.41 | 0.36 |
Each line shows the working, then the result. Distance is written as 4.93 (493 km ÷ 100) where a figure is quoted per 100 km.
| Cost and formula | A · BMW 320d | B · VW ID.4 Pro | C · Corolla Hybrid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel or energydistance ÷ 100 × consumption × price | 4.93 × 6.4 L × €1.62€51.11 | 4.93 × 20.0 kWh × €0.42€41.41 | 4.93 × 5.6 L × €1.74€48.04 |
| Tollspublished tariff for the route and vehicle class | route tariff€48.00 | route tariff€48.00 | route tariff€48.00 |
| Maintenancedistance × (maintenance cost ÷ 10,000 km) | 493 × €0.064€31.55 | 493 × €0.042€20.71 | 493 × €0.050€24.65 |
| Tyresdistance × (set price ÷ tyre life in km) | 493 × (€780 ÷ 30,000)€12.82 | 493 × (€900 ÷ 30,000)€14.79 | 493 × (€660 ÷ 30,000)€10.85 |
| Depreciationdistance × (value lost per 100,000 km ÷ 100,000) | 493 × (€13,700 ÷ 100,000)€67.54 | 493 × (€15,500 ÷ 100,000)€76.42 | 493 × (€9,800 ÷ 100,000)€48.31 |
| Total journey costsum of the five lines above | 51.11 + 48.00 + 31.55 + 12.82 + 67.54€211.02 | 41.41 + 48.00 + 20.71 + 14.79 + 76.42€201.33 | 48.04 + 48.00 + 24.65 + 10.85 + 48.31€179.85 |
| Cost per kmtotal ÷ distance | 211.02 ÷ 493€0.43 | 201.33 ÷ 493€0.41 | 179.85 ÷ 493€0.36 |
Fuel or energy. Uses real-world consumption rather than the official test figure, because motorway driving with a full load uses more energy than the laboratory cycle.
Maintenance and tyres. Both wear with distance, so they are charged per kilometre driven rather than per year.
Depreciation. Only the value lost through mileage is charged to the journey. Value lost through age alone would be lost whether or not the trip was made, so it is left out.
Tolls. Taken from the published tariff for the route and vehicle class. If no toll is known for a route, it is treated as €0.00.
The same journey looks different when repeated. Here it is made as a round trip, once a month.
| Period | A · BMW 320d | B · VW ID.4 Pro | C · Corolla Hybrid |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-way journey493 km | €211.02 | €201.33 | €179.85 |
| Round tripone-way × 2 (986 km) | €422.04 | €402.66 | €359.70 |
| Per year, 12 round tripsround trip × 12 (11,832 km) | €5,064.48 | €4,831.92 | €4,316.40 |
| Extra cost per year compared with the cheapest | +€748.08 | +€515.52 | – |
Tolls are assumed to be the same in both directions.
Prices and depreciation are the least certain inputs. The table shows the true cost per one-way journey if each turned out differently.
| Scenario | A · BMW 320d | B · VW ID.4 Pro | C · Corolla Hybrid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Report figures | €211.02 | €201.33 | €179.85 |
| Fuel and energy prices 10% highereach fuel or energy line × 1.10 | €216.13 | €205.47 | €184.65 |
| Depreciation 20% lowereach depreciation line × 0.80 | €197.51 | €186.05 | €170.19 |
In both scenarios the Corolla Hybrid remains cheapest and the order of the three vehicles does not change.
In a live report each input is tagged with where it came from and the date it was retrieved.
| Input | Source |
|---|---|
| Vehicle specification | Vehicle database entry for the chosen make, model, engine and trim |
| Consumption | Manufacturer figures adjusted to real-world motorway driving |
| Fuel and electricity prices | Average prices for the route's country on the price date |
| Tolls and charges | Published tariffs for the route and vehicle class |
| Maintenance, tyres and depreciation | Typical per-kilometre rates for the vehicle type and age |
| Distance | Routing service, fastest driving route |
A detailed report isn't only useful after you've decided where to drive. It can also help when you're comparing vehicles, considering a new commute or trying to understand the financial impact of regular driving.
Vehicle costs vary from driver to driver and from vehicle to vehicle. Fuel consumption can change with traffic, weather, speed and driving style. Maintenance and tyre costs vary. Future depreciation cannot be known with certainty.
A TrueTravelCost report therefore represents an estimate based on the available information and stated assumptions.
Start with the free TrueTravelCost calculator.
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