📉 Ownership & Value

Compare Two Cars: 5-Year Cost

Sticker price is a trap. Compare two cars on their real 5-year cost once fuel, insurance and resale value are factored in.

Your numbers

Miles driven per year

Fuel price

$/gal

First car — price

First car — fuel economy

mpg

First car — insurance per year

First car — resale after 5 yrs45 % of priceSecond car — price

Second car — fuel economy

mpg

Second car — insurance per year

Second car — resale after 5 yrs50 % of price

First car is cheaper by

$4,600

over 5 years

First car — 5-year cost

$32,900

Second car — 5-year cost

$37,500

First car — depreciation$17,600

First car — fuel (5 yrs)$6,800

First car — insurance (5 yrs)$8,500

Second car — depreciation$19,000

Second car — fuel (5 yrs)$8,500

Second car — insurance (5 yrs)$10,000

Insight — A cheaper sticker can lose to a thirstier engine or weaker resale within five years. Depreciation and fuel usually swing the result more than the purchase price gap you see on the lot.

Shop your insurance the smart way

Know your benchmark here, then compare real quotes from several carriers — prices for the same driver vary a lot.

Explore insurance tools

Free · No sign-up · Independent, source-based math

📊

For context: the cheaper sticker often loses on 5-year cost — resale strength and fuel economy regularly flip the result, which is exactly why comparing total cost (not just price) matters. Enter two real cars above to see it.

Good to know

Clear, practical answers about the two-car comparison calculator.

How do I compare the true cost of two cars?＋

Look past the sticker. Add up five years of depreciation (price minus resale value), fuel, and insurance for each car. The one with the lower total is genuinely cheaper to own — even if it cost more up front.

Why does resale value matter so much?＋

Resale value sets your depreciation, which is typically the single biggest cost of ownership. A car that holds 55% of its value after five years can be far cheaper to own than a rival that holds only 40%, even with a higher purchase price.

Should I include maintenance and taxes too?＋

This tool focuses on the three biggest variable costs — depreciation, fuel and insurance — so the comparison stays clean and apples-to-apples. For a full breakdown including maintenance and financing interest, use the True Cost of Ownership calculator.

Related calculators

🧾Ownership

Total Cost of Ownership Calculator

Your car payment is only part of the story. See the real cost per year and per mile once depreciation, fuel, insurance, maintenance and interest are added in.

Open calculator

📉Ownership

Car Depreciation Calculator

Project what your car will be worth in a few years — and how much value it quietly loses every year you own it.

Open calculator

🔧Ownership

When to Replace Your Car Calculator

Repairs on an older car climb every year. See the point where keeping it finally costs more than the payment on something newer.

Open calculator