To figure out how much a car costs per year, you need to know what your costs are per year. Which costs are often forgotten and what are variable or fixed costs? Read the blog and find out.
Car Cost Calculator: How much does a purchased car cost per year?
According to TCS, a purchased car costs around 10'495 Fr. or 70 Rp./km per year. To show you the exact costs, I'll show you the annual costs of a car based on a new car that costs 35,000 CHF and has an annual mileage of 15,000 km.
On the one hand, a distinction is made between fixed costs and variable costs. Fixed costs are those that will always be incurred, no matter what. These are, for example, amortisation, garage costs, insurance and taxes. Variable costs include service and maintenance, tyre costs, fuel costs and depreciation.
According to TCS, the fixed costs amount to 62.3%, the variable costs to 37.7%. Likewise, according to TCS, the fixed costs for this example car amount to 6'539.- per year and variable costs to 3'956.- per year. This results in annual costs of CHF 10,495 or 70 centimes per kilometre for a purchased car.
How much does a car on subscription cost per year?
A direct comparison between the annual costs of a purchased car and a car on subscription from Carvolution can be seen in the example of the Ford Focus SW ST-Line X. The purchase price is about 32'95 CHF. The purchase price is approx. 32'000 Fr., which is more or less the amount of the example car at the time of purchase. You drive the Ford Focus on a subscription basis for 574.- per month. That's an annual cost of CHF 6,912 for a car. This price already includes everything related to the car, except for fuel/charging costs.
That means insurance, cantonal redemption, taxes, service and tyres are already included.Compared to buying a car, you save 3'583 CHF per year with a car subscription. This is an example for a station wagon, a small car you can drive with Carvolution already from 338 CHF per month or 4'056 CHF per year. You save 6'439 CHF compared to buying a car.
The cost of a car per year
If you want to find out how much your car costs per year, you have to write down the fixed and the variable costs of your car, so you will get the annual costs in a next step. If you have any questions or would like to know more about the car subscription, you can find an overview of our blogs here or feel free to contact us.
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In addition to the costs already mentioned, fines, car accessories, or roadside assistance in emergencies may occur – although, of course, we hope you never need the latter.
With Carvolution’s all-inclusive package, roadside assistance is already included – so you can drive worry-free at all times. In addition, insurance, registration, taxes, the first motorway vignette, depreciation, as well as service, maintenance, and tyres are all included in the price.
Car Costs per Month
Purchase
When buying a new car, various costs occur:
The purchase price of the car
Fixed additional costs for insurance, registration, taxes, service, maintenance, and tyres. These can add up to CHF 140–350 per month, depending on the car.
Variable additional costs for fuel or electricity (possibly also fines)
Often forgotten, but very important: the depreciation of the car. A new car often loses over 50 % of its value in the first three years.
Calculating the monthly car costs realistically is therefore not easy. Many fixed and variable costs must be considered, and if you do not look carefully, you can easily underestimate how expensive owning a car really is per month.
Equally important are opportunity costs: the money tied up in the car could alternatively be invested or used for other purposes. These “missed opportunities” effectively increase the monthly car costs.
If you want to find out your exact monthly costs when buying a car, you can find a detailed calculation in our blog.
Leasing
With leasing, you pay a monthly rate that covers the use of the car over the contract period. Unlike buying or financing, the depreciation of the car is already included in the leasing rate, so you do not have to bear it separately.
It is important to note: at the end of the leasing contract, the car does not belong to you. You usually return it or can take it over at a previously agreed residual value – ownership as with financing is not automatically included.
In addition to the leasing rate, other ongoing costs must be budgeted:
Insurance (liability, full comprehensive) (CHF 80–150 per month)
Registration and taxes (CHF 20–40 per month)
Service and maintenance (CHF 10–100 per month)
Tyres including mounting and storage (CHF 30–60 per month)
These costs are variable costs and depend on the car type, usage, location, and your personal driving behaviour. If you do not consider them, you will quickly underestimate the actual monthly expenses for the car.
A detailed calculation of monthly leasing and car costs can be found in our blog.
Car Subscription
With a car subscription, cost planning is the easiest. The all-inclusive package covers almost all costs related to the car, including insurance, registration, taxes, service, maintenance, tyres, and other extras.
The only additional costs are fuel or electricity, parking fees, and possibly fines. This means there are hardly any variable costs or additional fixed costs.
A comparison between a car subscription and leasing is simple: send in your leasing offer or calculate it yourself. If the leasing price is lower, Carvolution reduces the subscription price accordingly thanks to its best-price guarantee.
Conclusion – Car Costs per Year for a Car
Overall, calculating the total car costs per year is not straightforward. If you want to find out how much your car costs per year, we recommend writing down the fixed and variable costs of your car. Calculate these per month or per year, and you will gain a good overview of your expenses.
If the car subscription convinces you as a simple, flexible, and cost-effective alternative to buying, financing, or leasing, Carvolution offers a wide range of models. If the right car is not available or you have other questions, you can also contact our team for a non-binding consultation at any time.
