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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 |
| Gas
and oil |
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 |
| Gas
and oil as a percent of total cost |
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 |
| Maintenance |
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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Fixed
costb |
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 |
a All figures reflect the average cost of operating a vehicle 15,000 miles per year in stop and go conditions.
b Fixed costs (ownership costs) include insurance, license, registration, taxes, depreciation, and finance charges.
NOTES
Changes in the way costs were calculated make it difficult to compare pre-1985 data with more recent years.
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 2003 fuel costs are based on a fourth quarter average price of $1.461 per gallon of regular unleaded gasoline, weighted 20 percent full-serve and 80 percent self-serve. Insurance figures are based on personal use of vehicles driven less than 10 miles to or from work, with no young drivers. Normal depreciation costs are based on the vehicle's trade-in value at the end of 4 years or 60,000 miles. 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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