Where Data Tells the Story
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Owning and operating a car involves both fixed and variable costs. Fixed costs, also known as ownership costs, do not change based on how much you drive and include insurance, license, registration, taxes, depreciation, and finance charges. Variable costs, also known as operating costs, involve the physical aspects of vehicle operation and include gasoline, maintenance, and tires.
Data stretching back to 1975 shows shifts in the costs of owning a car. Here’ are the inflation-adjusted average costs per 15,000 miles driven per year: