Five-Year Car Cost Calculator with transparent formulas, clear units, and instant results. Five-year ownership cost: C_5 = 5 × C_y + V_0 - V_5.
Stable formula
This calculator uses a stable mathematical formula. Always verify the values you enter.
Accuracy level
High when inputs and units are correct.
Last reviewed
July 9, 2026
Formula or source
Stable mathematical formula explained on the page.
Guide reading time
4 min
Confidence
High for the stated calculation.
Result type
Formula result, not an official certification.
Do not use for: Cases with missing data, unclear units, or a required professional certification.
How Five-Year Car Cost Calculator works
The Five-Year Car Cost Calculator uses these inputs: Purchase price, Resale value after 5 years, Five-year financing cost, Annual insurance, Annual fuel. Its primary output is Five-year ownership cost. Ownership calculations combine entered recurring expenses, use, depreciation, and maintenance budgets.
The engine implements C_5 = 5 × C_y + V_0 - V_5. Validation runs first to reject zero divisors and non-finite values.
Numeric example using the starting values: Five-Year Car Cost Calculator: Currency: USD · Purchase price: 150000 · Resale value after 5 years: 70000 · Five-year financing cost: 15000. The resulting output is Five-year ownership cost: $219,000.00.
Five-Year Car Cost Calculator: Limitation for Five-year ownership cost: the estimate covers only the displayed fields and does not model unentered road, wear, fitment, legal, or tariff conditions. Unusual repairs, market-value changes, insurance, and future rates can materially change total cost.
💡 Useful Tips
Do not mix units between Purchase price and Resale value after 5 years; make sure both describe the same scenario. Update values using invoices and a representative usage period.
Do not treat Five-Year Car Cost Calculator — Five-year ownership cost as mechanical, safety, legal, or financial approval.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Five-year ownership cost mean?
It is the direct output of the formula and entered values, and applies only to the defined scenario.
Which inputs change the result?
The active inputs are Purchase price, Resale value after 5 years, Five-year financing cost, Annual insurance, Annual fuel. Changing any one runs the same formula again. The site does not fetch live insurance, registration, or workshop prices.
What to check next
The result is a starting point. For a clearer picture, continue to a related calculator or read a short guide that explains the assumptions.