Average Annual Car Ownership Cost in USA
What is the Average Annual Car Ownership Cost?
The average total cost of car ownership in the USA is $12,863 per year (about $1,072 per month) for a new vehicle driven 15,000 miles annually according to AAA’s 2026 Your Driving Costs study.
The full cost of owning a new car in the USA — depreciation, fuel, insurance, maintenance, financing, and license/registration/taxes — averaged $12,863 in 2026, which works out to 85.75 cents for every mile driven at 15,000 annual miles.
Review Benchmark Calculation Breakdowns below.
| Cost Category | Annual Cost | Monthly Equivalent | % of Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Depreciation | $4,422 | $369 | 34% |
| Fuel | $2,598 | $217 | 20% |
| Full-Coverage Insurance | $2,098 | $175 | 16% |
| Maintenance, Repairs & Tires | $1,760 | $147 | 14% |
| Financing Interest | $1,184 | $99 | 9% |
| License, Registration & Taxes | $802 | $67 | 6% |
| Composite Total | $12,863 | $1,072 | 100% |
Annual Car Ownership Calculation Steps
Step 1 — Annual Depreciation
Annual vehicle depreciation benchmark of $4,422 (about $369 per month, representing 34% of total annual ownership cost) based on a 5-year ownership period at 15,000 annual miles according to AAA’s 2026 study.
Step 2 — Fuel Costs
National average regular unleaded fuel price benchmark of $4.152 per gallon supporting the 17.32¢ per mile composite fuel operating rate ($2,598 annually at 15,000 miles).
U.S. regular all formulations retail gasoline annual weighted price per gallon was $3.097 in 2025 according to EIA Series EMM_EPMR_PTE_NUS_DPG.
Step 3 — Full-Coverage Insurance
Full-coverage insurance policy quote average of $2,098 per year across personal passenger vehicle models for drivers with a clean record.
Step 4 — Maintenance Repairs Tires
According to the AAA 2026 study, the national average operating benchmark for maintenance, repair, and tires across all vehicle categories is 11.73¢ per mile (amounting to $1,760 annually at 15,000 miles).
Step 5 — Financing Interest
Annual finance interest charges of $1,184 based on a 5-year loan with a 15% down payment at prevailing national auto loan rates.
Step 6 — License Registration Taxes
National weighted average of state motor vehicle registration fees, title fees, and annual vehicle personal property/excise taxes of $802 per year.
Step 7 — Parking Tolls
Use Calculator below to Enter Parking Costs.
Historical Ownership Cost Context & Methodology Changes
In 2025, AAA estimated average annual ownership costs at $11,577. For 2026, AAA evaluated 7 vehicle categories and 34 top-selling models, integrating EVs and hybrids into standard category benchmarks, resulting in an average annual cost of $12,863. Due to category restructuring, direct year-over-year percentage comparisons are not directly comparable without methodology qualification.
Total Ownership Cost Summary
The average total cost of car ownership in the USA is $12,863 per year (about $1,072 per month) for a new vehicle driven 15,000 miles annually according to AAA’s 2026 Your Driving Costs study.
Interactive Total Cost of Ownership Calculator
Enter Scenario Inputs below to View Estimated Costs.
Illustrative hypothetical input values for interactive demonstration.
Estimated Total Cost of Ownership
Governed Primary Evidence Provenance
View Primary Evidence Sources below.
| Governed Metric | Authoritative Value | Source Authority | Evidence Artifact · Methodology | Provenance Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Composite Annual Total | $12,863 | AAA 2026 Study | Your Driving Costs Brochure (p. 2) | SOURCE_VERIFIED |
| Composite Per-Mile Rate | 85.75¢/mile | Cars.Zone Derivation | $12,863 / 15,000 miles × 100 | GOVERNED_DERIVATION |
| Annual Depreciation | $4,422 | AAA 2026 Study | Your Driving Costs Brochure (p. 2) weighted average | SOURCE_VERIFIED |
| Annual Fuel Operating Cost | $2,598 | Cars.Zone Derivation | 17.32¢/mile × 15,000 miles | GOVERNED_DERIVATION |
| Full-Coverage Insurance | $2,098 | AAA 2026 Study | Personal passenger vehicle composite quote | SOURCE_VERIFIED |
| Annual Maintenance & Tires | $1,760 | Cars.Zone Derivation | 11.73¢/mile × 15,000 miles | GOVERNED_DERIVATION |
| Annual Financing Interest | $1,184 | AAA 2026 Study | 5-year term, 15% down payment standard | SOURCE_VERIFIED |
| License, Registration & Taxes | $802 | AAA 2026 Study | State registration and ad valorem taxes | SOURCE_VERIFIED |
| U.S. Regular Gasoline Benchmark | $4.152/gal | AAA 2026 Study | National regular unleaded evaluation average | SOURCE_VERIFIED |