How much did owning and driving a new car cost for a year?
Owning and driving a new car for a year cost $8,849 in 2018 and $11,577 in 2025: 31% more.
Over the same years, prices in general (US inflation, measured by the consumer price index, CPI) rose by 28%. That makes $8,849 in 2018 worth about $11,300 in 2025 money. So it roughly kept pace with inflation (within 10%).
The biggest change between two listed years came between 2020 and 2025, when it went up 21%, from $9,561 to $11,577.
Owning a car: price by year
| Year | Price | In 2025 dollars |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | $8,849 | $11,300 |
| 2019 | $9,282 | $11,700 |
| 2020 | $9,561 | $11,900 |
| 2025 | $11,577 | $11,600 |
"In 2025 dollars" adjusts each amount for inflation with the CPI, so the years can be compared fairly. How this works.
Where the numbers come from
Figures as published by the source below.
Source: AAA (American Automobile Association): AAA Your Driving Costs (annual newsroom releases and 2020 fact sheet). View the source.
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