01 / ENERGY
Fuel and electricity
Usually the most visible cost of driving, driven by consumption, distance and the price you pay for energy.
What are vehicle running costs?
Vehicle running costs are the expenses associated with operating and maintaining a vehicle.
Some are obvious and occur regularly. Others are less visible but can still represent a significant part of the overall cost of ownership. Depending on the vehicle and the calculation, running costs can include energy, maintenance, tyres, wear and depreciation.
02 / MAINTENANCE
Maintenance and servicing
Servicing, inspections, fluids, brakes and other work needed to keep a vehicle operating.
03 / TYRES
Tyres
A cost directly connected to vehicle use, with wear that depends on the vehicle, driving style and road conditions.
04 / VALUE
Depreciation
The reduction in a vehicle's value over time, which can be a substantial part of the cost of owning it.
Fuel and electricity
Energy is usually the most visible cost of driving.
For petrol and diesel vehicles, consumption is commonly expressed as litres per 100 kilometres. Electric vehicles use electricity rather than liquid fuel, with consumption commonly expressed in kWh per 100 kilometres.
The actual cost depends on consumption, distance travelled and the price you pay for your energy.
Maintenance and servicing
Cars require ongoing maintenance throughout their lives. Servicing, inspections, fluids, brakes and other maintenance work all contribute to the cost of keeping a vehicle operating.
These expenses don't necessarily appear on every journey, but they are associated with the kilometres the vehicle travels.
Tyres
Tyres are another cost directly connected to vehicle use.
The rate at which tyres wear depends on factors including the vehicle, tyre type, driving style, road conditions and mileage. Because tyres eventually need replacing, their expected cost can be considered when estimating the cost of travelling each kilometre.
Vehicle wear
Vehicles contain many components that experience wear as they are used.
Not all of that wear can be attributed precisely to a single journey. However, higher mileage generally means greater use of the vehicle and can contribute to maintenance and replacement costs over its lifetime.
TrueTravelCost can therefore consider vehicle wear as part of a broader estimate rather than treating fuel as the only cost of driving.
Depreciation
Depreciation is the reduction in a vehicle's value over time. It can be influenced by age, mileage, condition, specification, market demand and many other factors.
Unlike fuel, depreciation isn't something you pay at the end of every journey. But it can represent a substantial cost of owning a vehicle. For this reason, anyone trying to understand the true cost of vehicle ownership should consider depreciation as well as day-to-day expenses.
Cost per kilometre
One useful way to understand vehicle running costs is to look at the estimated cost per kilometre.
€0.40 per kilometre × 500 kilometres
= approximately €200
In this example, a 500-kilometre journey would represent approximately €200 of vehicle-related travel cost before considering any costs outside the calculation. The figure can then be used to understand the cost of longer journeys, regular commuting and annual driving.
Why fuel-only calculations can be misleading
A fuel-only calculation can be useful when you simply want to know how much fuel a journey will consume. But if you're trying to understand the financial impact of driving, it leaves out several other costs associated with using the vehicle.
That's the distinction TrueTravelCost is designed to make.
Fuel cost tells you what you spend on fuel. True travel cost looks at the wider cost of making the journey.
Vehicle running costs depend on how you drive
There isn't one universal running cost for every driver.
A vehicle driven 5,000 kilometres per year will have a different cost profile from the same vehicle driven 30,000 kilometres. City driving, motorway driving, short journeys, long journeys and different driving conditions can also affect actual costs.
That's why a useful calculation needs to consider both the vehicle and the journeys being made.
Thinking about buying a car?
Running costs can be an important part of comparing vehicles before making a purchase. The purchase price is only one part of the financial picture. The cost of using the vehicle over several years can also be significant.
Calculate your true travel cost
Enter your journey and vehicle to see an estimate based on the information available.
Use the TrueTravelCost Calculator