What will your next car really cost?
Compare up to three cars side by side, whether they run on petrol, diesel, hybrid or electric. Tell us how you drive and see the true cost over 1, 3 or 5 years, using this week's published fuel and charging prices.
Compare up to three cars side by side
Add the cars you're considering and adjust anything to match your own driving. It's a guide to help you compare, not a quote.
All figures are estimates, not a quotation. Prices come from the DESNZ weekly road fuel prices, the Ofgem price cap and the Zapmap Charging Price Index.
Three steps to the real cost
Most people compare cars on price and monthly payment. The running costs and the value you lose are what really decide what a car costs you.
How you drive
Your yearly mileage, commute, the mix of town and motorway driving, and whether you can charge at home.
The cars you're considering
Describe each car or paste the advert title, and AI fills in its figures. Every figure is marked and can be changed.
What each one really costs
Fuel or charging, road tax, insurance, servicing, tyres and value lost, side by side with the cheapest highlighted.
Running cost questions, answered honestly
How the calculator works, where the numbers come from, and what it can and can't tell you.
Where do the fuel and charging prices come from?
Petrol and diesel are the UK average pump prices published every week by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. Home charging uses either a typical overnight EV tariff or the Ofgem price cap rate, and public charging uses the Zapmap Charging Price Index. The calculator shows the date of each price, and you can change any of them to match what you actually pay.
How is depreciation worked out?
We take the price you pay and what the car is expected to be worth after 3 or 5 years. For most cars this is the single biggest cost of ownership. The AI suggests typical values based on the car's age and mileage. If you know better, change them.
Does it include the pay-per-mile charge for electric cars?
Yes. The government has confirmed a charge of 3p a mile for electric cars and 1.5p a mile for plug-in hybrids from April 2028. The calculator only adds it for the part of your ownership after that date, and you can switch it off.
How is road tax calculated?
We use the 2026/27 rates:
- Cars registered from April 2017 pay £200 a year.
- Cars with a list price over the expensive car threshold also pay a £440 supplement in years two to six. Electric cars first registered before 1 April 2025 are exempt.
- Cars registered between 2001 and 2017 are taxed on their CO2 emissions.
What does the AI do?
It reads your description of a car and suggests its figures: fuel or electricity use, insurance, servicing, tyres and future value. Each suggested figure is marked, so you can check it. The AI never sets fuel or electricity prices; those always come from the published sources. It can also explain the results in plain English.
Is this a quote?
No. The figures are estimates to help you compare cars. Insurance in particular depends on you, so get a quote before deciding. For prices, part exchange or finance on a specific car, call us on 01226 574410.
Found the right type of car?
Browse our stock, or pop into the showroom in Worsbrough. Our team will happily run the numbers with you on a real car, with no pressure.