Work out what your car really costs for every mile you drive — including the costs most people forget.
Fuel is only the visible part. Insurance, maintenance, road tax, tyres, repairs and depreciation can quietly double the true cost of every mile.
Good for a journey estimate, but it misses the cost of owning the car.
Adds the hidden ownership costs that change whether a car is actually good value.
Use this before buying a car, judging a commute or comparing petrol, diesel, hybrid and electric.
Use the calculator to build your yearly car cost. Then divide the yearly total by your annual mileage to get your realistic cost per mile.
Quick answer: the formula is simple, but the inputs matter
To work out your real car cost per mile, divide your total yearly car cost by the number of miles you drive per year.
The calculation is easy. The mistake is only using fuel and forgetting the costs that really change the answer: insurance, road tax, servicing, MOT, tyres, repairs and depreciation.
That is why RealCost helps you build the full yearly cost first, then turn it into a realistic cost-per-mile figure.
Is your car cheap or expensive per mile?
These are practical guide bands, not official figures. Your own cost depends on your car, mileage and personal costs.
Very lean. Usually needs a cheap car, low insurance, good fuel economy and enough mileage to spread fixed costs.
Common zone. Many normal used petrol, diesel and hybrid cars sit here once fuel, insurance and maintenance are included.
Warning zone. Often caused by high insurance, low mileage, expensive repairs, heavy depreciation or a car that is too costly for the job.
The costs people usually miss
Most drivers know their fuel cost. Fewer know the costs that quietly make each mile expensive.
A car that saves £20 a month in fuel can still be a bad choice if insurance is £60 a month higher.
Losing £1,500 of value in a year is the same as spending £125 a month, even if no bill arrives.
Bigger wheels, heavier cars and performance tyres can make routine wear much more expensive.
If you drive very few miles, fixed costs like insurance and tax are spread over fewer miles, pushing the cost per mile up.
Fuel cost per mile vs real car cost per mile
This is the difference between a quick journey estimate and a proper ownership decision.
This only measures petrol, diesel or electricity used to drive each mile.
Useful for: quick trips, route costs and fuel comparisons.
This includes the wider cost of owning, maintaining and losing value on the car.
Useful for: buying decisions, commuting, affordability and comparing cars properly.
Example: how a “cheap” car becomes expensive
This example shows why fuel economy alone is not enough.
| Cost | Yearly amount | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel | £1,600 | The cost most people focus on first. |
| Insurance | £900 | Can change massively by car, driver and postcode. |
| Road tax, servicing, MOT, tyres and repairs | £1,100 | The running costs that often get underestimated. |
| Depreciation | £1,200 | Value lost over time, even if it does not feel like a monthly bill. |
| Total yearly cost | £4,800 | At 8,000 miles per year, this is about 60p per mile. |
The “wow” test: what changes the number most?
Your fixed costs spread out, so cost per mile can fall even if total yearly spend rises.
A car with slightly worse fuel economy can still be cheaper overall if it holds value better.
A low purchase price can be wiped out if the car sits in a higher insurance risk zone.
Large wheels and premium tyre sizes can turn normal maintenance into a major cost.
Before you decide a car is cheap, check these
What to calculate next
Use these tools to find what is pushing your cost per mile up.
Estimate one of the biggest ownership costs before buying or renewing.
RealCost decision
A car is not cheap just because the fuel cost looks low. The better question is whether the full cost per mile makes sense for how you actually use the car.
If your result looks high, check insurance, depreciation, mileage and maintenance first. Those are often the costs that make the biggest difference.
RealCost note
This page gives a budgeting estimate, not a guaranteed ownership cost. Real costs depend on your car, mileage, insurance quote, repair history, fuel price, charging price, driving style and how long you keep the vehicle.
FAQs
Common questions about car cost per mile in the UK.
It depends on the car and mileage. As a rough guide, under 35p per mile is lean, 35p–60p is common for many normal cars, and 60p+ deserves a closer look at insurance, depreciation, maintenance or low mileage.
No. Fuel cost per mile only measures petrol, diesel or electricity. Real car cost per mile also includes insurance, tax, maintenance, tyres, repairs and depreciation.
Many car costs stay similar whether you drive 3,000 miles or 10,000 miles. If you drive fewer miles, those fixed costs are spread over fewer journeys, so the cost per mile rises.
Yes. Depreciation is not a monthly bill, but it is still real money lost while you own the car. Ignoring it can make expensive cars look cheaper than they are.