Question 1

When this is useful

Accepted Answer

Comparing two cars where the cheaper sticker is not the cheaper car, deciding how long to keep a vehicle, or simply seeing the real monthly cost of motoring. The total is almost always higher than people expect once everything is added up.

Question 2

Depreciation is the biggest cost

Accepted Answer

For most cars, the value lost to depreciation dwarfs fuel and servicing combined — especially in the first three years. A car bought for $30,000 that is worth $13,000 after five years has cost $17,000 in depreciation alone, often more than every other cost put together. It is the cost no one sees on a monthly statement.

Question 3

Running costs add up quietly

Accepted Answer

Insurance, fuel, maintenance, tyres, and registration are easy to underestimate month-to-month but substantial over years. CalcWize totals them across your whole ownership period and shows them beside depreciation, so you see the full picture rather than one line at a time.

Question 4

Cost per mile

Accepted Answer

Dividing the total by the distance you drive turns an abstract figure into something you can compare — useful when weighing a car against public transport, or a thirsty car against an efficient one. The fewer miles you drive, the more depreciation dominates the cost of each one.

Question 5

Common mistakes

Accepted Answer

Judging a car by its purchase price alone, assuming an expensive car must be cheaper to run, and ignoring that some models depreciate far faster than others. Resale value and reliability often matter more to the true cost than the headline price.

Coste total del coche — lo que de verdad cuesta

Cuándo es útil

La depreciación es el mayor coste

Los costes corrientes suman en silencio

Coste por kilómetro

Errores comunes

Lo que no hace