01 / ENERGY
Fuel or electricity
The estimated energy required for the journey based on the vehicle and relevant energy-price assumptions.
Fuel is only one part of the cost
Fuel is only one part of the cost of using a vehicle. TrueTravelCost brings together several vehicle and journey costs to produce a broader estimate.
Step 1: Enter your journey
Start by entering where you're travelling from and where you're going.
The journey distance provides the foundation for the calculation, because many vehicle costs increase as kilometres are driven.
A short local journey and a 1,000-kilometre road trip can therefore produce very different results.
Step 2: Enter your vehicle
Different vehicles have different costs.
Fuel consumption, maintenance requirements, tyre costs, depreciation and other factors can vary significantly between vehicles.
That's why TrueTravelCost is designed to calculate the journey in the context of the vehicle being used.
Step 3: Calculate more than fuel
The calculation can consider several components of vehicle and journey cost.
02 / MAINTENANCE
Maintenance
Vehicles require servicing and maintenance as they accumulate mileage. An estimated cost can be allocated across the kilometres travelled.
03 / TYRES
Tyres
Tyres wear as they are used. Their expected cost and lifespan can therefore contribute to the cost of travelling.
04 / WEAR
Vehicle wear
Driving contributes to wear on components and systems. This can be considered as part of the broader cost of vehicle use.
05 / VALUE
Depreciation
Vehicles can lose value over time and as mileage increases. Estimated depreciation can therefore be considered when calculating the broader cost of using a vehicle.
06 / ROUTE
Tolls and journey charges
Depending on the route, tolls and other journey-specific charges can add directly to the cost of travelling.
Step 4: See the bigger picture
Instead of seeing only a fuel figure, the result can show the estimated contribution of different costs to the journey.
For example, a journey might look inexpensive at the fuel pump while having a significantly higher overall cost once vehicle-related costs are considered.
The result can be expressed as:
Fuel + Maintenance + Tyres + Wear + Depreciation + Journey Costs
= True Travel Cost
Why use an estimate?
Some vehicle costs can be measured precisely. Others cannot.
Your actual fuel consumption will depend on traffic, weather, driving style and the vehicle's condition. Maintenance costs vary. Tyre life varies. Future resale values cannot be known with certainty.
Estimates, not guarantees. TrueTravelCost uses estimates and assumptions rather than presenting uncertain figures as guaranteed costs. The aim is to provide a useful comparison and a broader understanding of vehicle costs.
One journey or hundreds?
The same calculation can be useful for a single trip or for journeys you repeat regularly.
A daily commute, for example, can be converted into weekly, monthly or annual costs.
Thinking about buying a car?
TrueTravelCost can also help you think about vehicle costs before you buy.
Comparing vehicles using the same driving assumptions can give you a different perspective on the cost of owning them.
Want the complete picture?
A comprehensive TrueTravelCost report can bring the journey, vehicle and cost information together in a detailed analysis.
Calculate the true cost of your journey
Enter your journey and vehicle details to start estimating what your driving really costs.
Open the TrueTravelCost Calculator