Knowing your real cost per mile is useful when comparing vehicles, estimating commuting costs, planning a driving budget, or deciding whether a more efficient vehicle is worth paying extra for.
What does driving a car cost per mile?
AAA’s latest Your Driving Costs study estimates that the average new vehicle driven 15,000 miles per year costs about $11,577 per year to own and operate. That is roughly 77 cents per mile.
That national figure is only a benchmark. A paid-off compact vehicle can cost substantially less, while a new pickup, luxury vehicle, or heavily financed vehicle may cost considerably more.
Operating cost and total cost are different
Operating cost includes expenses that increase as you drive, such as fuel, maintenance, repairs and tires.
Total cost also includes depreciation, insurance, financing, registration, taxes and other ownership costs.
This distinction matters because fuel is often not the largest cost of owning a newer vehicle.
Cost-per-mile formula
Total cost per mile = annual vehicle costs ÷ annual miles driven
If your vehicle costs $9,000 per year in total and you drive 12,000 miles:
$9,000 ÷ 12,000 = $0.75 per mile
What should you include?
- Gasoline or electricity
- Insurance
- Maintenance and repairs
- Tires
- Loan interest
- Registration, taxes and fees
- Depreciation
Why depreciation matters
Depreciation does not arrive as a monthly bill, but a loss in resale value is still a real ownership cost. This is why comparing vehicles on MPG alone can give a misleading answer.
Calculate your own ownership cost
Source
AAA Your Driving Costs 2025, the latest annual AAA ownership-cost study available when this guide was updated in August 2026.
U.S. guide updated August 2026. Actual ownership costs depend on vehicle, location, financing and driving habits.