What this tool does
Combine distance-based fuel spending with insurance, vehicle tax, maintenance, parking and tolls in one currency-neutral budget.
How to use it
- Enter average monthly distance, measured fuel economy in km/L and fuel price per litre.
- Enter annual insurance, tax and maintenance plus monthly parking and tolls in the same currency.
- Review monthly average, annual total, fuel use and cost per kilometre.
Formula and method
Annual distance = monthly distance × 12. Annual fuel = distance ÷ km/L; fuel cost = litres × price per litre. Add annual costs and 12 months of parking and tolls.
Example
At 1,000km per month, 10km/L and a fuel price of 1.7, annual fuel costs 2,040 currency units. Adding 800 insurance, 300 tax, 600 maintenance and 100 per month for parking and tolls gives 4,940 annually.
Useful for
- Budgeting before buying a car
- Comparing travel alternatives
- Testing different annual-distance scenarios
Limits and notes
Purchase price, financing, depreciation, collision repairs, tyres and future price changes are excluded. It uses km/L and price per litre for combustion vehicles; electric vehicles need kWh-based inputs.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use this for an electric vehicle?
Not directly. This model requires km/L and fuel price per litre, so use an energy-efficiency calculator with kWh units instead.
What belongs in maintenance?
Enter your expected annual total for servicing, inspection, consumables and repairs, using actual records when possible.