Calculate the real cost before you commit
UK car cost calculators and decision guides for ownership, fuel, insurance, EVs, maintenance, depreciation and commuting.
RealCost helps you spot the hidden costs before a cheap-looking car, commute or EV decision becomes expensive.
Uses your postcode's real coordinates to find stations within 5 miles, sorted by cheapest price (automatically searches a bit further if there's nothing that close). Click a result for directions. Averaged from 8024 UK forecourts via the UK Government's official Fuel Finder API. Prices updated 28 Aug 2026, 3:32pm.
Live UK Fuel Price MapSee the cheapest petrol & diesel near 15 major UK cities →
A basic calculator gives a result. RealCost shows what the result means and what expensive mistake to avoid next.
Insurance, depreciation, repairs, tyres, road tax and charging access can change the true cost completely.
Start with the money decision you are making, not a random list of calculators.
Calculator estimates only, not financial advice — see how RealCost’s numbers work and their limits.
What money decision are you making?
Choose the closest decision and go straight to the most useful RealCost page.
Can I afford this car?
Estimate ownership cost including fuel, insurance, tax, maintenance, tyres, repairs and depreciation.
What does my car really cost per mile?
Go beyond fuel and see how insurance, repairs and depreciation affect every mile.
How much could insurance cost?
Insurance can make a cheap car expensive. Estimate the cost before buying or renewing.
Is electric cheaper for me?
Compare EV charging, petrol costs and the home-vs-public charging decision.
What does my commute really cost?
Work out weekly, monthly and yearly commuting costs before they quietly eat your income.
Is this used car a risky buy?
Avoid repair traps, poor history, high running costs and cars that look cheap for the wrong reason.
Start with the calculators that matter most
These are the core RealCost tools for the decisions most likely to cost you real money.
Full ownership cost, not just fuel.
Budget one of the biggest car costs.
Home vs public charging costs.
Compare fuel and EV running costs.
Servicing, tyres, MOT and repairs.
Estimate the hidden value loss.
Quick fuel cost for a known distance.
Weekly, monthly and yearly commute cost.
Work out your true fuel cost for every mile.
Estimate what you’ll pay in vehicle tax.
Work out your tax-free business mileage allowance.
Compare renting against buying outright.
Cost out any journey by distance.
Avoid the expensive car-buying traps
A low purchase price does not always mean a low-cost car.
Cheapest Cars to Run UK
Find low-cost cars without ignoring insurance, tyres, repairs and depreciation.
Used Car Buying Checklist
Check history, repair risk, paperwork, MOT issues and running costs before buying.
Cheapest Cars to Insure and Run
Useful if insurance could be the cost that changes the whole decision.
Most Expensive Cars to Run
Avoid cars that look affordable to buy but become painful to own.
Petrol, hybrid or electric?
The cheapest option depends on mileage, insurance, charging access, depreciation and how you actually drive.
Home vs public charging is the key EV cost decision.
Compare the fuel types before choosing the wrong one.
The answer changes if you cannot charge cheaply.
Look beyond charging at tyres, insurance and depreciation.
Why RealCost exists
A car decision can look cheap in one place and expensive everywhere else.
Calculate the cost
Use simple tools for fuel, insurance, EV charging, maintenance, depreciation and ownership.
Compare the options
See whether petrol, diesel, hybrid, electric, commuting or buying choices actually make sense.
Avoid expensive mistakes
Spot the hidden costs before committing to a car, commute, EV or used-car purchase.