How Much Does It Cost To Own A New Car?

Written By: Jerry Reynolds | Oct 1, 2026, 9:48:50 PM

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Q: How Much Does It Cost To Own A New Car?

Well, you'll need to budget an average of roughly $13,000 annually to own and operate a new vehicle these days, according to Triple-A's new 2026 "Your Driving Costs" Analysis. The study says this estimate reflects continued increases from depreciation, fuel prices and finance charges. Ownership costs also include insurance, license, registration and taxes along with repair, maintenance and tire costs.

Photo: Billion Photos/Shutterstock.com.

Jerry Reynolds

From police officer to top-selling Ford dealer to on-air car expert, Jerry helms our weekly radio show. Since selling his dealerships in 2006, Jerry has pursued his top three passions: helping consumers have a great car buying experience, supporting the military and first responders, being a loyal servant to his dog! While Jerry admits to hitting the pedal to the metal on test drives, it's all the service of finding out just how fast he can go from 0 to 60.

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Jerry Reynolds

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