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Typical vehicle running costs - for a diesel engine car

The RAC, in conjunction with ​
​​ ​ Emmerson Hill Associates, has compiled the following guide to the motoring costs of running, from new:

  • a privately-owned diesel car
  • for a period of three years from 2016
  • assuming an annual mileage of 10,000 miles

The data below is provided without warranty.

Engine size (cc)
​​ ​ ​

up to 1400
​​ ​ ​

up to 1400
​​ ​ ​

1401 to 2000
​​ ​ ​

2001 to 2200
​​ ​ ​

2001 to 2200
​​ ​ ​

2201 to 2500
​​ ​ ​

2501 to 3000
​​ ​ ​

over 3000

Assumed ​ ​ fuel consumption (mpg)
​​ ​

60
​​ ​

58
​​ ​

53
​​ ​

42
​​ ​

40
​​ ​

39
​​ ​

36
​​ ​

34
​​ ​

CO2 emissions level (g/km)
​​ ​

under 120
​​ ​

121-150
​​ ​

151-165
​​ ​

166-185
​​ ​

186-225
​​ ​

226-255
​​ ​

255 plus
​​ ​

255 plus
​​ ​

New cost incl all taxes (incl first year's VED / 'showroom tax')
​​ ​

£9,750
​​ ​

£9,950
​​ ​

£13,750
​​ ​

£19,750
​​ ​

£21,500
​​ ​

£24,950
​​ ​

£29,750
​​ ​

£31,500
​​ ​

Average value @ 3 years
​​ ​

£3,950
​​ ​

£4,250
​​ ​

£5,950
​​ ​

£8,250
​​ ​

£8,750
​​ ​

£9,650
​​ ​

£11,750
​​ ​

£12,250
​​ ​

Projected depreciation
​​ ​

£5,800
​​ ​

£5,700
​​ ​

£7,800
​​ ​

£11,500
​​ ​

£12,750
​​ ​

£15,300
​​ ​

£18,000
​​ ​

£19,250
​​ ​

Finance charges @ 4.8% APR
​​ ​

£722
​​ ​

£736
​​ ​

£1,018
​​ ​

£1,462
​​ ​

£1,591
​​ ​

£1,846
​​ ​

£2,202
​​ ​

£2,331
​​ ​

Servicing & maintenance
​​ ​

£520
​​ ​

£520
​​ ​

£760
​​ ​

£1,075
​​ ​

£1,075
​​ ​

£1,440
​​ ​

£1,520
​​ ​

£1,650
​​ ​

Tyres & replacement parts
​​ ​

£350
​​ ​

£350
​​ ​

£475
​​ ​

£595
​​ ​

£595
​​ ​

£625
​​ ​

£650
​​ ​

£750
​​ ​

Insurance premiums over 3 years
​​ ​

£1,050
​​ ​

£1,050
​​ ​

£1,335
​​ ​

£1,650
​​ ​

£1,650
​​ ​

£2,520
​​ ​

£3,225
​​ ​

£3,750
​​ ​

VED for years 2 and 3
​​ ​

£60
​​ ​

£260
​​ ​

£360
​​ ​

£450
​​ ​

£570
​​ ​

£970
​​ ​

£1,000
​​ ​

£1,000
​​ ​

RAC membership over 3 years
​​ ​

£495
​​ ​

£495
​​ ​

£495
​​ ​

£495
​​ ​

£495
​​ ​

£495
​​ ​

£495
​​ ​

£495
​​ ​

Total cost over 3 year period
​​ ​

£8,997
​​ ​

£9,111
​​ ​

£12,243
​​ ​

£17,227
​​ ​

£18,726
​​ ​

£23,196
​​ ​

£27,092
​​ ​

£29,226
​​ ​

Annual cost
​​ ​

£2,999
​​ ​

£3,037
​​ ​

£4,081
​​ ​

£5,742
​​ ​

£6,242
​​ ​

£7,732
​​ ​

£9,031
​​ ​

£9,742
​​ ​

Cost Per Mile (CPM) excl diesel
​​ ​ ​

30.0p
​​ ​ ​

30.4p
​​ ​ ​

40.8p
​​ ​ ​

57.4p
​​ ​ ​

62.4p
​​ ​ ​

77.3p
​​ ​ ​

90.3p
​​ ​ ​

97.4p

+ Diesel CPM @ £0.90/litre
​​ ​

6.8p
​​ ​

7.1p
​​ ​

7.7p
​​ ​

9.8
​​ ​

10.3p
​​ ​

10.5p
​​ ​

11.4p
​​ ​

12.1
​​ ​

+ Diesel CPM @ ​ ​ £0.95/litre
​​ ​

7.2p
​​ ​

7.4p
​​ ​

8.1p
​​ ​

10.3p
​​ ​

10.8p
​​ ​

11.1p
​​ ​

12.0p
​​ ​

12.7p
​​ ​

+ Diesel CPM @ £1.00/litre
​​ ​

7.6p
​​ ​

7.8p
​​ ​

8.6p
​​ ​

10.8p
​​ ​

11.4p
​​ ​

11.7p
​​ ​

12.6p
​​ ​

13.4p
​​ ​

+ Diesel CPM @ ​ ​ £1.05/litre
​​ ​

8.0p
​​ ​

8.2p
​​ ​

9.0p
​​ ​

11.4p
​​ ​

11.9p
​​ ​

12.2p
​​ ​

13.3p
​​ ​

14.0p
​​ ​

+ Diesel CPM @ ​ ​ £1.10/litre
​​ ​

8.3p
​​ ​

8.6p
​​ ​

9.4p
​​ ​

11.9p
​​ ​

12.5p
​​ ​

12.8p
​​ ​

13.9p
​​ ​

14.7p
​​ ​

+ Diesel CPM @ ​ ​ £1.15/litre
​​ ​

8.7p
​​ ​

9.0p
​​ ​

9.8p
​​ ​

12.4p
​​ ​

13.1p
​​ ​

13.4p
​​ ​

14.5p
​​ ​

15.4p
​​ ​

+ Diesel CPM @ ​ ​ £1.20/litre
​​ ​

9.1p
​​ ​

9.4p
​​ ​

10.3p
​​ ​

13.0p
​​ ​

13.6p
​​ ​

14.0p
​​ ​

15.1p
​​ ​

16.0p
​​ ​

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The RAC Media Centre provides journalists and news outlets with the latest motoring-related news, comment, data and research.

The RAC is an iconic British driving services brand and has been championing drivers since 1897. Today it is one of the UK’s most trusted names, providing complete peace of mind ® to over 15 million drivers across breakdown cover, insurance, and mobile servicing and repairs.

Its nationwide patrol force attends more than two million breakdowns every year, while its position as the UK’s leading independent insurance broker helps motorists find the right cover with confidence. The RAC has also reshaped the service, maintenance and repair market with its Mobile Mechanics, who carry out servicing and repairs at drivers’ homes or workplaces.

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