Free Australian car running cost calculator. Add up your annual fuel, registration and CTP, insurance, and servicing and tyres to see what your car really costs to run each year, plus a cost-per-kilometre figure and weekly and monthly breakdowns. Fuel cost is calculated from your annual kilometres, fuel economy (L/100km) and current fuel price. Excludes depreciation and finance, so you can layer those on for a full total-cost-of-ownership view.
Average Australian car drives around 12,000–15,000 km a year.
Use your trip computer or the car's sticker figure.
Total Annual Cost
$5,300
$442 per month
Cost Per Kilometre
$0.35
$102 per week
Weekly
$102
Monthly
$442
Annual Fuel
$2,400
Fuel Used / yr
1200 L
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The true cost of owning a car in Australia is far more than the fuel you put in the tank. To work out your real annual running cost, add up the four big cash costs you pay every year: fuel, registration and CTP (compulsory third party insurance), your car insurance premium, and servicing plus tyres. Divide that total by how far you drive in a year and you get your cost per kilometre.
Say you drive 15,000 km a year in a car that uses 8 L/100km, fuel costs $2.00/L, and your fixed costs are $900 rego and CTP, $1,200 insurance, and $800 servicing and tyres:
This tool covers the out-of-pocket running costs you pay each year. It does not include depreciation (the value your car loses over time), loan or lease repayments, parking, tolls, or fines. If you want a full total-cost-of-ownership figure, for example to compare buying versus leasing, or petrol versus electric, add those items on top of the total here.
Driving fewer kilometres spreads your fixed costs (rego, CTP and insurance) over less distance, so your cost per kilometre actually rises when you drive less, but your total spend falls. The biggest variable lever is fuel: keeping tyres at the right pressure, servicing on schedule, and shopping the weekly fuel-price cycle can all trim the fuel line. Shopping around at insurance renewal time is usually the single biggest fixed-cost saving.
Most Australian households spend roughly $13,000–$18,000 a year to run one car when you include fuel, registration, CTP, insurance, servicing, tyres and depreciation. Your exact figure depends on how far you drive, your car's fuel economy and current fuel prices. Enter your own numbers above for a personalised annual running cost and a cost-per-kilometre figure.
Annual fuel cost = (annual kilometres ÷ 100) × fuel economy (L/100km) × fuel price ($/L). For example, 15,000 km a year in a car using 8 L/100km at $2.00/L = (15,000 ÷ 100) × 8 × $2.00 = 150 × 8 × $2.00 = $2,400 a year in fuel.
Cost per kilometre is your total annual running cost divided by the kilometres you drive in a year. As a rough guide, a small-to-medium private car typically lands around 30–60 cents per kilometre once you add fuel, rego, CTP, insurance and servicing (excluding depreciation and finance). The more you drive, the lower the per-kilometre cost because fixed costs like rego and insurance are spread over more kilometres.
No. This tool covers the cash running costs you pay each year, fuel, registration and CTP, insurance, and servicing and tyres. It does not include depreciation (the car losing value over time), loan or lease repayments, or parking and tolls. Add those separately if you want a full total-cost-of-ownership figure.
If you use your car for work or business, you may be able to claim a deduction. Sole traders and individuals can use the cents-per-kilometre method (88 cents per business kilometre for FY 2025-26, capped at 5,000 business km) or the logbook method, which claims the work-related percentage of your actual running costs. Keep a logbook and receipts. Check ato.gov.au or a registered tax agent for your situation.
Real-world fuel use is usually higher than the official ADR (lab) figure on the sticker, especially for stop-start city driving, short trips, a loaded car, air-conditioning, or aggressive driving. For an accurate annual cost, use the L/100km from your own trip computer or work it out by dividing litres filled by kilometres driven, then multiplying by 100.
Sources & methodology
This calculator adds your four annual running-cost inputs, fuel, registration and CTP, insurance, and servicing and tyres, into a total annual cost, then divides by your annual kilometres for a cost-per-kilometre figure. Fuel cost is (annual km ÷ 100) × fuel economy (L/100km) × fuel price ($/L). It excludes depreciation, finance, parking and tolls. Everything is computed in your browser, nothing you enter is stored or sent to a server.
Authoritative sources
Reviewed by Bishal Shrestha — Founder of OneBookPlus, 10+ years building tools with Australian tax-agent and BAS-agent practices. Last reviewed and updated: June 2026.
Disclaimer: This tool provides estimates only and is not professional advice. For decisions that affect your tax, finances, or compliance position, consult a registered professional.
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