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Table 3-14: Average Cost of Owning and Operating an
Automobilea
(Assuming 15,000 Vehicle-Miles per Year)
Excel | CSV
Average
total cost per mile (current ยข) |
14.4 |
21.2 |
23.2 |
33.0 |
37.3 |
38.8 |
38.7 |
39.4 |
41.2 |
42.6 |
44.8 |
46.1 |
47.0 |
49.1 |
51.0 |
50.2 |
51.7 |
56.2 |
Gasb |
4.8 |
5.9 |
5.6 |
5.4 |
6.6 |
5.9 |
5.9 |
5.6 |
5.8 |
5.6 |
6.6 |
6.2 |
5.6 |
6.9 |
7.9 |
5.9 |
7.2 |
6.5 |
Gas
as a percent of total costb |
33.4 |
27.9 |
24.0 |
16.4 |
17.7 |
15.2 |
15.2 |
14.2 |
14.1 |
13.1 |
14.7 |
13.4 |
11.9 |
14.1 |
15.5 |
11.8 |
13.9 |
11.6 |
Maintenancec |
1.0 |
1.1 |
1.2 |
2.1 |
2.2 |
2.2 |
2.4 |
2.5 |
2.6 |
2.8 |
2.8 |
3.1 |
3.3 |
3.6 |
3.9 |
4.1 |
4.1 |
5.4 |
Tires |
0.7 |
0.6 |
0.7 |
0.9 |
0.9 |
0.9 |
0.9 |
1.0 |
1.2 |
1.2 |
1.4 |
1.4 |
1.7 |
1.7 |
1.8 |
1.8 |
1.8 |
0.7 |
Average
total cost per 15,000 miles (current $) |
2,154 |
3,176 |
3,484 |
4,954 |
5,601 |
5,824 |
5,804 |
5,916 |
6,185 |
6,389 |
6,723 |
6,908 |
7,050 |
7,363 |
7,654 |
7,533 |
7,754 |
8,431 |
Variable
cost |
968 |
1,143 |
1,113 |
1,260 |
1,455 |
1,350 |
1,380 |
1,365 |
1,440 |
1,440 |
1,620 |
1,605 |
1,590 |
1,829 |
2,040 |
1,770 |
1,965 |
1,890 |
Fixed
costd |
1,186 |
2,033 |
2,371 |
3,694 |
4,146 |
4,474 |
4,424 |
4,551 |
4,745 |
4,949 |
5,103 |
5,303 |
5,460 |
5,534 |
5,614 |
5,764 |
5,789 |
6,541 |
a All figures reflect the average cost of
operating a vehicle 15,000 miles per year in stop and go conditions.
b Prior to 2004, data include oil cost.
c Beginning in 2004, data include oil cost.
d Fixed costs (ownership costs) include
insurance, license, registration, taxes, depreciation, and finance charges.
NOTES
Methodological changes in 1985 and 2004
make it difficult to compare costs before and after those years.
In
2004, the American Automobile Association adopted a new method for
calculating vehicle operating costs that the Association believes more
closely represents the real-world personal use of a vehicle over a five-year
and 75,000-mile ownership period.
Prior
to 1985, the cost figures are for a mid-sized, current model, American car
equipped with a variety of standard and optional accessories. After 1985, the cost figures represent a
composite of three current model American cars. The 2004 fuel costs are based on average
late-2003 U.S. prices from AAA's Fuel Gauge Report: www.fuelgaugereport.com. Insurance figures are based on a
full-coverage policy for a married 47-year-old male with a good driving
record living in a small city and commuting three to ten miles daily to work.
The policy includes $100,000/$300,000 level coverage with a $500 deductible
for collision coverage and a $100 deductible for comprehensive coverage.
Depreciation costs are based on the difference between new-vehicle purchase
price and its estimated trade-in-value at the end of five years. American Automobile Association analysis
covers vehicles equipped with standard and optional accessories including
automatic transmission, air conditioning, power steering, power disc brakes,
AM/FM stereo, driver- and passenger-side air bags, anti-lock brakes, cruise
control, tilt steering wheel, tinted glass, emissions equipment, and
rear-window defogger.
SOURCE
American Automobile Association, Your
Driving Costs (Heathrow, FL: Annual
issues).
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