Buying a car: how to calculate the real cost of ownership?

Buying a car in 2025 isn't just about the price on the price tag, there are many additional costs that make up the true cost of ownership. Fuel, insurance, maintenance, taxes, and even the loss of the car's value over time are all things you need to consider to figure out how much your car will cost you. In this article, I'll look at how to calculate car buying the real cost of ownership to avoid financial surprises and make an informed choice.

Consider the purchase price and overpayment

The first step is to determine how much you are paying for the car itself. A new Hyundai Solaris in 2025 costs about 1.5 million rubles. If you take a loan at 12% for 5 years with a down payment of 20%, the monthly payment will be 27 thousand rubles, and the overpayment will be 450 thousand rubles. Thus, the real purchase price will be 1.95 million rubles. Used Solaris 2018 for 800 thousand rubles will save at the start, but may require investments. Buying a car the real cost of ownership begins by taking into account these costs.

Calculate your loan overpayment

Overpayment on a loan is an important part of the costs. If you borrow 1.5 million roubles under 12% for 5 years, the overpayment will be 450 thousand roubles. But banks can include hidden fees, for example, for loan servicing (20-50 thousand rubles for the entire term). Also, some require life insurance, which adds 20-40 thousand rubles a year. Buying a car the cost of ownership in this case increases, so compare the proposals of banks and choose the most transparent conditions.

Estimate fuel costs

Fuel is one of the most significant cost items. For a car that consumes 7 litres per 100 km (e.g. a Kia Rio) with a mileage of 15,000 km per year and a petrol price of 55 roubles per litre, the annual costs will be:
(15,000 km ÷ 100) × 7 litres × RUB 55 = RUB 57,750.
An electric car such as the Nissan Leaf will require 15-20 kWh per 100 kilometres. At a cost of 5 roubles per kWh and the same mileage, this is 11-15 thousand roubles per year. The actual cost of maintaining a car depends greatly on the type of engine and your driving habits.

Consider fuel type and driving style

Your driving style affects your consumption. Aggressive driving can increase fuel consumption by 20-30%. For example, for a Kia Rio, consumption can rise to 9 litres per 100 km, which will increase the annual cost to 74 thousand rubles. Electric cars are less sensitive to driving style, but their charging at public stations (10-15 rubles per kWh) can be more expensive than at home. Buying a car maintenance costs increase if you do not take such nuances into account.

Add insurance costs

Insurance is a mandatory part of the costs. MTPL insurance for an average-power car in 2025 costs 8-15 thousand roubles a year. If you take out a loan, the bank may require CASCO, which will add 20-50 thousand roubles a year. For a used car, CASCO may be cheaper (15-30 thousand rubles), but its absence increases the risks. For example, repair after a minor accident without CASCO will cost 20-40 thousand rubles. How to calculate the cost of car ownership? Always include insurance in your calculations.

Consider additional insurance services

Some insurance companies offer additional services such as roadside assistance (5-10 thousand roubles a year) or theft insurance (10-20 thousand). These services increase the cost, but can be useful if you often drive on the motorway. Buying a car full cost in this case should include such options if you consider them necessary to avoid unforeseen expenses.

Consider maintenance and repair costs

Car maintenance includes regular maintenance, replacement of parts and repairs. For a new car, maintenance costs 10-15 thousand roubles once a year, and tyre replacement costs 20-30 thousand roubles every 3-4 years. A used car may require more investments: suspension replacement after 100 thousand kilometres will cost 30-50 thousand rubles. Electric cars are cheaper to maintain (about 20 thousand rubles per year), but battery replacement after 5-7 years can cost 300-500 thousand rubles. Buying a car the real cost of ownership strongly depends on the age and type of car.

Calculate the cost of depreciation

The wear and tear of parts such as brake pads (5-10 thousand roubles every 30 thousand km) or the battery (10-15 thousand roubles every 3-5 years) should also be taken into account. For example, for a car with a mileage of 15 thousand kilometres per year, replacement of pads will be required every 2 years, which will add 2.5-5 thousand rubles per year. Buying a car ownership costs increase if you do not plan such regular expenses.

Don't forget about taxes and fees

Transport tax depends on the engine capacity. For a car with a 120 hp engine in 2025, the tax will be about 3-5 thousand rubles per year (depending on the region). Electric cars are often exempt from tax or have discounts, which saves 2-5 thousand roubles a year. Also take into account the costs of registration (2-3 thousand rubles) and technical inspection (1-2 thousand rubles per year). The real cost of maintaining a car includes these mandatory payments.

Consider parking and fines

If you live in a large city such as Moscow, parking can cost 50-200 roubles per hour. If you park for 2 hours a day, that's 36-72 thousand roubles a year. Fines for traffic violations also add to the costs: the average fine for speeding is 500-5 thousand roubles. How to calculate the cost of owning a car? Budget for possible parking costs and fines, especially if you often drive in the city centre.

Estimate the loss of value of the vehicle

The car loses value every year. A new Hyundai Solaris for 1.5 million rubles in 5 years may cost 750 thousand rubles, that is, you lose 50% of value. A used car loses less in absolute figures: a Solaris for 800 thousand rubles in 5 years will cost 400 thousand. Electric cars fall in price faster due to the development of technology: Nissan Leaf for 2 million in 5 years may cost 1 million. Buying a car maintenance costs should include this loss if you plan to sell the car.

Compare with alternatives

Renting or carsharing may be cheaper if you rarely use the car. For example, renting through carsharing costs 5-10 roubles per minute, which if you use it 10 days a month (3 hours each) will be 9-18 thousand roubles. For 5 years it is 540 thousand - 1 million rubles, which may be less than the loss of value and ownership costs. Buying a car full costs in this case is worth comparing with other options to understand what is more favourable.

Conclusion: count all the costs

Buying a car the real cost of ownership in 2025 includes not only the price of the car, but also loan overpayments, fuel, insurance, maintenance, taxes, parking and loss of value. To calculate the exact amount, add up all the annual costs and divide by the length of ownership. For example, for a Solaris for 1.5 million rubles, taking into account all costs (about 150 thousand rubles per year) and loss of value (750 thousand rubles) for 5 years of ownership will cost 2.25 million rubles. Compare this with your budget and alternatives to make the right choice.