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Typical vehicle running costs - for a petrol 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 petrol 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 1000
​​ ​ ​

up to 1200
​​ ​ ​

up to 1400
​​ ​ ​

up to 1800
​​ ​ ​

up to 2000
​​ ​ ​

up to 2500
​​ ​ ​

up to 3000
​​ ​ ​

over 3000

Assumed fuel consumption (mpg)
​​ ​

60
​​ ​

50
​​ ​

46
​​ ​

40
​​ ​

36
​​ ​

31
​​ ​

27
​​ ​

25
​​ ​

CO2 emissions level (g/km)
​​ ​

under 120
​​ ​

121-150
​​ ​

151-165
​​ ​

166-185
​​ ​

186-225
​​ ​

226-255
​​ ​

226-255
​​ ​

255 plus
​​ ​

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

£7,450
​​ ​

£8,950
​​ ​

£10,250
​​ ​

£13,450
​​ ​

£15,500
​​ ​

£19,750
​​ ​

£22,500
​​ ​

£27,500
​​ ​

Average value @ 3 years
​​ ​

£3,200
​​ ​

£3,750
​​ ​

£3,950
​​ ​

£4,750
​​ ​

£5,350
​​ ​

£6,350
​​ ​

£6,750
​​ ​

£9,750
​​ ​

Projected depreciation
​​ ​

£4,250
​​ ​

£5,200
​​ ​

£6,300
​​ ​

£8,700
​​ ​

£10,150
​​ ​

£13,400
​​ ​

£15,750
​​ ​

£17,750
​​ ​

Finance charges @ 4.8% APR
​​ ​

£551
​​ ​

£662
​​ ​

£759
​​ ​

£995
​​ ​

£1,147
​​ ​

£1,462
​​ ​

£1,665
​​ ​

£2,035
​​ ​

Servicing & maintenance
​​ ​

£550
​​ ​

£575
​​ ​

£600
​​ ​

£700
​​ ​

£880
​​ ​

£1,070
​​ ​

£1,200
​​ ​

£1,375
​​ ​

Tyres & replacement parts
​​ ​

£340
​​ ​

£370
​​ ​

£415
​​ ​

£500
​​ ​

£600
​​ ​

£760
​​ ​

£790
​​ ​

£835
​​ ​

Insurance premiums over 3 years
​​ ​

£900
​​ ​

£1,050
​​ ​

£1,095
​​ ​

£1,335
​​ ​

£1,650
​​ ​

£2,520
​​ ​

£2,805
​​ ​

£3,225
​​ ​

VED for years 2 and 3
​​ ​

£60
​​ ​

£260
​​ ​

£360
​​ ​

£450
​​ ​

£570
​​ ​

£970
​​ ​

£970
​​ ​

£1,000
​​ ​

RAC membership over 3 years
​​ ​

£495
​​ ​

£495
​​ ​

£495
​​ ​

£495
​​ ​

£495
​​ ​

£495
​​ ​

£495
​​ ​

£495
​​ ​

Total cost over 3 year period
​​ ​

£7,146
​​ ​

£8,612
​​ ​

£10,024
​​ ​

£13,175
​​ ​

£15,492
​​ ​

£20,677
​​ ​

£23,675
​​ ​

£26,715
​​ ​

Annual cost
​​ ​

£2,382
​​ ​

£2,871
​​ ​

£3,341
​​ ​

£4,392
​​ ​

£5,164
​​ ​

£6,892
​​ ​

£7,892
​​ ​

£8,905 ​
​​ ​

Cost Per Mile (CPM) excl petrol

23.8p

28.7p

33.4p

43.9p

51.6p

68.9p

78.9p

89.1p

+ Petrol CPM @ £0.90/litre
​​ ​

6.8p
​​ ​

8.2p
​​ ​

8.9p
​​ ​

10.3p
​​ ​

11.4p
​​ ​

13.2p
​​ ​

15.2p
​​ ​

16.4p
​​ ​

+ Petrol CPM @ £0.95/litre
​​ ​

7.2p
​​ ​

8.6p
​​ ​

9.4p
​​ ​

10.8p
​​ ​

12.0p
​​ ​

13.9p
​​ ​

16.0p
​​ ​

17.2p
​​ ​

+ Petrol CPM @ £1.00/litre
​​ ​

7.6p
​​ ​

9.1p
​​ ​

9.9p
​​ ​

11.4p
​​ ​

12.6p
​​ ​

14.7p
​​ ​

16.9p
​​ ​

18.2p
​​ ​

+ Petrol CPM @ £1.05/litre
​​ ​

8.0p
​​ ​

9.5p
​​ ​

10.4p
​​ ​

11.9p
​​ ​

13.3p
​​ ​

15.4p
​​ ​

17.7p
​​ ​

19.1p
​​ ​

+ Petrol CPM @ £1.10/litre
​​ ​

8.3p
​​ ​

10.0p
​​ ​

10.9p
​​ ​

12.5p
​​ ​

13.9p
​​ ​

16.1p
​​ ​

18.5p
​​ ​

20.0p
​​ ​

+ Petrol CPM @ £1.15/litre
​​ ​

8.7p
​​ ​

10.4p
​​ ​

11.3p
​​ ​

13.1p
​​ ​

14.5p
​​ ​

16.8p
​​ ​

19.3p
​​ ​

20.9p
​​ ​

+ Petrol CPM @ £1.20/litre
​​ ​

9.1p
​​ ​ ​

10.9p
​​ ​

11.8p
​​ ​

13.6p
​​ ​

15.1p
​​ ​

17.6p
​​ ​

20.2p
​​ ​

21.8p
​​ ​

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About RAC Media Centre

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

The RAC is an iconic UK brand, and provides complete peace of mind to nearly 14 million UK private and business drivers - whatever their motoring needs. As well as its premium nationwide breakdown assistance service – with an expert branded patrol workforce attending more than two million breakdowns every year – and European breakdown assistance products, it offers a wide range of market-leading products across insurance, legal services, vehicle inspections and service, maintenance and repair. Included in this is the first-of-its-kind nationwide Mobile Mechanics service which brings the garage to homes and workplaces. 

At the forefront of new solutions for business fleets and consumers, the RAC’s breakdown service is electric-ready with mobile EV charging technology and be called on using myRAC – its all-in-one route planner, fuel finder and breakdown reporting app. 

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