How Much A Car Really Costs

In Green Is Good, i read the cost of running a Hyundai Getz is $106/week. Even more alarming, a Landcruiser is $327/week. Ouch!


The info comes from a 2004 study by the NRMA. They include the following costs:

• Depreciation in value
• Interest lost by not having the money in the bank
• Registration, insurance and car-club membership
• Maintenance and Repairs
• Fuel

Because their aim was to compare cars, they left out the extra costs that are independent of which car you drive. Things like parking costs, parking fines, speeding tickets, cleaning, etc. Also, they assumed that you had the cash up-front, so they don't include interest payments on money borrowed.

The info is now available through an online calculator. The Landcruiser now comes in at $360/week. It's the kind of thing that makes me feel sooo much better about being car-free.