Driving & travel · Calculator companion · By K Imports
Car ownership cost: practical guide
This guide explains how to use the Count.ie car ownership cost. Compare depreciation, fuel and all entered recurring car expenses. Follow the inputs, method and worked example below, then compare your own scenario.
Guide written .
Open the Car ownership cost calculatorWhat to prepare
- Record the distance, vehicle specification and the relevant fuel or electricity price.
- Separate one-off purchase or import costs from recurring running costs.
- Use observed consumption where available and label any manufacturer's figure as an assumption.
Understand the inputs
The calculation method
Ownership cost = purchase minus resale + years × annual running costs + total finance interest.
Worked example
Illustrative inputs and their result.
Example inputs
- Purchase price (€)
- 25000
- Expected resale value (€)
- 12000
- Ownership years
- 5
- Annual distance (km)
- 18000
- Fuel consumption (L/100 km)
- 6
- Fuel price (€/litre)
- 1.8
- Annual insurance (€)
- 700
- Annual motor tax (€)
- 200
- Annual maintenance (€)
- 600
- Annual parking and tolls (€)
- 400
- Total finance interest over ownership (€)
- 2500
Calculated example result
- Annual Ownership Cost
- €6,944.00
- Cost Per Km
- €0.3858/km
How to interpret the result
A running-cost or range estimate is not a guarantee of real-world performance. Weather, loading, driving conditions, charging losses and changing prices can alter the result.
Compare vehicles over the same distance and ownership period. Test a higher energy price or worse consumption before deciding that the apparent saving is dependable.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Do not mix litres per 100 km with miles per gallon, or battery capacity with energy purchased.
- Distinguish an advertised charging power from power sustained during a full session.
- Check taxes, vehicle classification and exclusions against the stated date and sources.
Assumptions and sources
Values are estimates, not quoted Irish vehicle tax or insurance rates. Excludes opportunity cost and time value of money; enter finance interest once, not loan principal.
If your case falls outside this scope, use a more suitable calculator or contact us about an unclear method.