CarFactsUKCarFactsUK
UK petrol & diesel ownership calculator

Car Running Cost Calculator UK

Car Running Cost Calculator

Estimate the monthly and annual cost of running your petrol or diesel car using the figures that apply to you.

Your annual estimate

Enter the costs that apply to your car

Enter the three required fuel figures, add any annual running costs, then choose how—or whether—to count the car itself.

Driving and fuelRequired
Annual running costsOptional
Vehicle-cost methodChoose one

How should the cost of the car itself be counted?

Choose one method so the calculator can give you one clear grand total without counting the vehicle twice.

No vehicle cost added

Your grand total will include fuel and the annual running costs entered above, but no finance payments, purchase price or depreciation.

This is a planning estimate based only on your entries. It is not a quote or a forecast of future prices.

Your own figures
UK imperial MPG
One grand total

Calculation method

How the running-cost estimate works

01

Calculate annual fuel

Mileage is divided by real-world UK MPG, converted from imperial gallons to litres, then multiplied by your pence-per-litre price.

02

Add annual running costs

Fuel is added to the annual insurance, VED, MOT, servicing, repairs, tyres, breakdown and other figures you provide.

03

Choose one vehicle-cost method

Add 12 finance or lease payments, add annual depreciation, or add neither. The selected method creates one grand total.

Fuel-cost formula

Annual fuel cost (£) = (annual mileage ÷ real-world UK MPG) × 4.54609 × (fuel price in pence per litre ÷ 100)

Worked example: 10,000 miles at 45 UK MPG and 150p/L gives an estimated annual fuel cost of £1,515.36. This is an illustration only—use your own figures.

Grand-total definition

Estimated annual total = fuel + entered annual running costs + your one selected vehicle-cost method. Finance is annualised from 12 monthly payments; depreciation is added once for the year; choosing neither adds £0.

Use amounts that apply to your own car. The calculator inserts no national fuel price, insurance premium or maintenance allowance.

Fuel calculator Car tax calculator

Running-cost guidance

Common car-cost questions

What does the running-cost total include?

The estimated annual total includes fuel and every annual running cost you enter. It also includes either 12 monthly finance or lease payments, estimated annual depreciation, or neither—depending on the vehicle-cost method you select. Empty optional fields are treated as zero.

Should I choose finance payments or depreciation?

Choose finance or lease payments if you want a cash-budget estimate based on money leaving your account. Choose depreciation if you want an ownership-cost estimate based on the car's estimated loss in value. Do not use both because that can count part of the vehicle cost twice. Choose neither if you only want fuel and day-to-day running costs.

How is the annual fuel cost calculated?

Annual mileage is divided by real-world UK MPG to estimate imperial gallons used. The result is multiplied by 4.54609 to convert gallons to litres, then multiplied by the entered fuel price in pounds per litre.

What figures should I enter for tax, MOT and insurance?

Use the amount that applies to your own vehicle and circumstances. Vehicle tax depends on the vehicle and registration date, MOT fees can vary up to the permitted maximum, and insurance pricing is personal to the driver, cover and vehicle.

Why might my actual running cost be different?

Fuel economy, repair needs, tyre wear, premiums and other costs can change during the year. The result is a planning estimate based only on the figures entered, not a quote or prediction of future prices.

Does this calculator cover electric cars?

No. The fuel calculation uses UK imperial MPG and pence-per-litre pricing, so it is intended for petrol and diesel cars. It does not calculate electricity consumption or charging tariffs.

Reference note: the calculator uses the exact UK imperial-gallon conversion and customer-supplied costs. Official and government-backed guidance is linked below so each major input can be checked at source.

Last reviewed: 3 September 2026

MoneyHelper car-budget guidanceConsumer guidance covering purchase, finance, depreciation and day-to-day car costs.GOV.UK vehicle-tax ratesOfficial Vehicle Excise Duty rate tables for cars and other vehicles.GOV.UK MOT test feesOfficial maximum MOT fee information by vehicle class.GOV.UK vehicle insuranceOfficial guidance on the legal requirement to insure a vehicle used on roads and in public places.VCA fuel-consumption guidanceOfficial guidance explaining why real-world fuel consumption can vary.UK imperial gallon definitionLegislation.gov.uk definition used for the exact 4.54609-litre conversion.