The annual “Your Driving Costs” study by AAA shows the cost of owning and operating a sedan in the U.S. rose $1.2 cents to 60.8 cents per mile, or a total of $9,122 a year based on 15,000 miles of driving.
Maintenance costs were the biggest driver, increasing by 11.3 percent to 5 cents per mile because of significant increases in labor and part costs and a major increase in the price of extended warranties.
Fuel costs increased 1.9 percent to 14.5 centers per mile. The average price of regular fuel rose 3.8 percent, from $3.36 to $3.49 per gallon.
Insurance costs rose 2.8 percent ($28) to $1,029 a year. Tire costs remained unchanged at one cent per mile.
AAA has published “Your Driving Costs” since 1950, when driving a car cost 9 cents per mile and gas sold for 27 cents per gallon. You can determine your won cost by going to the brochure and plugging in your particular area, driver and vehicle.
I’m sure my costs have gone up way more than average, trying to keep my 17-year-old Honda running. It has been a reliable car and I’ve kept it pretty well maintained, but there comes a time when we all wear out. I’ve just been too lazy and cheap to find something else.
