Understanding the financial implications of owning a vehicle extends far beyond the initial purchase price. Factors like fuel efficiency, driving habits, and even the type of fuel you use significantly impact your overall expenses. Our new car tool is designed to provide a comprehensive overview of these costs, empowering you to make informed decisions about your vehicle.
Calculate Your Vehicle’s Running Costs
To accurately estimate your vehicle’s fuel consumption and emissions, our Cost New Car Tool takes into account your unique driving patterns. By providing details about your daily commutes and longer trips, you’ll receive a personalized cost breakdown.
Daily Driving Habits
To begin, specify your typical daily driving routine. This includes:
- Average daily driving distance: Input the miles you usually drive each day.
- Days per week: Indicate how many days a week you typically use your car.
- Weeks per year: Specify the number of weeks per year you drive regularly.
- Percentage of highway driving: Estimate the percentage of your daily driving that is on highways versus city roads. Highway and city driving conditions affect fuel efficiency differently, so this detail enhances the accuracy of the cost new car tool.
Based on this information, the tool automatically calculates your:
- Annual Driving Distance: Your total estimated mileage for a year.
- City Distance: The portion of your annual mileage driven in city conditions.
- Highway Distance: The portion of your annual mileage driven on highways.
These calculations form the foundation for estimating fuel consumption and overall running costs.
Additional Trip Mileage
Beyond your daily driving, consider any additional trips you take throughout the year. If you regularly embark on longer journeys, input the following:
- Annual mileage for other trips: Enter the approximate total mileage for these additional trips.
- Percentage of highway driving for other trips: Estimate the highway driving percentage for these trips, as it may differ from your daily driving.
Including these trips ensures a more complete picture of your annual mileage and associated costs.
Electricity Consumption for Electric Vehicles
If you drive an electric vehicle (EV) or a plug-in hybrid, electricity usage is a crucial cost factor. To calculate this accurately, our cost new car tool requires you to:
- Select your state: This allows the tool to use the average electricity price in your region, which varies geographically.
- Specify charging frequency: Indicate how often you typically plug in your vehicle during your normal daily use. Options include:
- Twice a day
- Daily
- Every other day
This information helps estimate your electricity consumption and its contribution to your overall vehicle running costs.
E85 Ethanol Fuel Usage
For flex-fuel vehicles capable of running on E85 ethanol, our tool allows you to factor in E85 usage. If you plan to use E85, specify:
- Percentage of E85 use: Estimate the percentage of the time you anticipate using E85 fuel compared to gasoline.
E85 fuel prices and energy content differ from gasoline, impacting your fuel expenses and emissions.
Biodiesel Fuel Usage for Diesel Vehicles
Similarly, for diesel vehicles that can utilize biodiesel blends, you can input biodiesel usage details:
- Available biodiesel blend: Indicate the biodiesel blend available to you (e.g., B5, B20).
- Percentage of biodiesel use: Estimate how often you plan to use biodiesel compared to regular diesel fuel.
Biodiesel blends can affect fuel costs and emissions compared to standard diesel.
Disclaimer
It’s important to note that the Vehicle Cost Calculator provides estimates based on the information you input and publicly available data. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) provide this tool for informational purposes. Vehicle prices, specifications, and fuel costs are subject to change. Always consult with a dealer or vehicle manufacturer for the most up-to-date and accurate information before making any purchasing decisions.
