Auto Cost Compared https://autocostcompared.com What a car really costs to own — depreciation, energy, insurance and financing, brand by brand and country by country across Europe and the US. en Sat, 15 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT What a car really costs: reading a total-cost-of-ownership number https://autocostcompared.com/what-a-car-really-costs/ https://autocostcompared.com/what-a-car-really-costs/ Depreciation, energy, insurance, maintenance, tax and financing — which lines dominate a total cost of ownership, and why the monthly payment is built to hide it. Sat, 15 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT Stéphane Sprauer Depreciation: the largest cost line, and the one nobody looks at https://autocostcompared.com/depreciation/ https://autocostcompared.com/depreciation/ Why the gap between what you pay and what the car is worth later dominates ownership cost, what actually drives it, and why the badge tells you less than t Sat, 15 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT Stéphane Sprauer Home charging versus public charging: the line you still control https://autocostcompared.com/home-versus-public-charging/ https://autocostcompared.com/home-versus-public-charging/ For an electric car the energy line splits in two — off-peak home charging and public rapid charging — at very different unit costs. Where you plug in deci Sat, 15 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT Stéphane Sprauer What winter really costs: range, consumption and the tariff https://autocostcompared.com/winter/ https://autocostcompared.com/winter/ Cold weather cuts electric range and raises consumption — mostly through cabin heating. What the studies find, what a heat pump changes, and how to cost a Sat, 15 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT Stéphane Sprauer How to read a lease or PCP quote without being misled by the monthly figure https://autocostcompared.com/reading-a-lease-quote/ https://autocostcompared.com/reading-a-lease-quote/ The monthly payment is designed to be the number you look at. Here is what it hides — deposit, term, mileage allowance, guaranteed future value, excess cha Sat, 15 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT Stéphane Sprauer Battery warranty and resale: the second-owner question https://autocostcompared.com/battery-warranty-and-resale/ https://autocostcompared.com/battery-warranty-and-resale/ Battery warranty terms differ from vehicle warranty terms and are the fine print that decides an EV’s resale case. What state of health means, what the use Sat, 15 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT Stéphane Sprauer Why we treat every incentive as perishable https://autocostcompared.com/why-incentives-are-perishable/ https://autocostcompared.com/why-incentives-are-perishable/ Purchase subsidies move adoption while they last and reverse when withdrawn — the research is consistent. Sweden ended its bonus with days of notice; the U Sat, 15 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT Stéphane Sprauer Tesla: what it costs to own https://autocostcompared.com/brand/tesla/ https://autocostcompared.com/brand/tesla/ Tesla total cost of ownership: depreciation, running costs and financing through Tesla Financing in Europe and the United States. Sat, 15 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT Stéphane Sprauer Volkswagen: what it costs to own https://autocostcompared.com/brand/volkswagen/ https://autocostcompared.com/brand/volkswagen/ Volkswagen total cost of ownership: depreciation, running costs and financing through Volkswagen Financial Services in Europe and the United States. Sat, 15 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT Stéphane Sprauer BMW: what it costs to own https://autocostcompared.com/brand/bmw/ https://autocostcompared.com/brand/bmw/ BMW total cost of ownership: depreciation, running costs and financing through BMW Financial Services in Europe and the United States. Sat, 15 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT Stéphane Sprauer Mercedes-Benz: what it costs to own https://autocostcompared.com/brand/mercedes-benz/ https://autocostcompared.com/brand/mercedes-benz/ Mercedes-Benz total cost of ownership: depreciation, running costs and financing through Mercedes-Benz Mobility in Europe and the United States. Sat, 15 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT Stéphane Sprauer Audi: what it costs to own https://autocostcompared.com/brand/audi/ https://autocostcompared.com/brand/audi/ Audi total cost of ownership: depreciation, running costs and financing through Audi Financial Services (Volkswagen Financial Services) in Europe and the U Sat, 15 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT Stéphane Sprauer Porsche: what it costs to own https://autocostcompared.com/brand/porsche/ https://autocostcompared.com/brand/porsche/ Porsche total cost of ownership: depreciation, running costs and financing through Porsche Financial Services in Europe and the United States. Sat, 15 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT Stéphane Sprauer Škoda: what it costs to own https://autocostcompared.com/brand/skoda/ https://autocostcompared.com/brand/skoda/ Škoda total cost of ownership: depreciation, running costs and financing through Škoda Financial Services (Volkswagen Financial Services) in Europe. Sat, 15 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT Stéphane Sprauer Cupra / SEAT: what it costs to own https://autocostcompared.com/brand/cupra/ https://autocostcompared.com/brand/cupra/ Cupra / SEAT total cost of ownership: depreciation, running costs and financing through SEAT Financial Services (Volkswagen Financial Services) in Europe. Sat, 15 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT Stéphane Sprauer Renault: what it costs to own https://autocostcompared.com/brand/renault/ https://autocostcompared.com/brand/renault/ Renault total cost of ownership: depreciation, running costs and financing through Mobilize Financial Services in Europe. Sat, 15 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT Stéphane Sprauer Peugeot: what it costs to own https://autocostcompared.com/brand/peugeot/ https://autocostcompared.com/brand/peugeot/ Peugeot total cost of ownership: depreciation, running costs and financing through Stellantis Financial Services in Europe. Sat, 15 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT Stéphane Sprauer Citroën: what it costs to own https://autocostcompared.com/brand/citroen/ https://autocostcompared.com/brand/citroen/ Citroën total cost of ownership: depreciation, running costs and financing through Stellantis Financial Services in Europe. Sat, 15 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT Stéphane Sprauer Opel / Vauxhall: what it costs to own https://autocostcompared.com/brand/opel/ https://autocostcompared.com/brand/opel/ Opel / Vauxhall total cost of ownership: depreciation, running costs and financing through Stellantis Financial Services in Europe. Sat, 15 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT Stéphane Sprauer Fiat: what it costs to own https://autocostcompared.com/brand/fiat/ https://autocostcompared.com/brand/fiat/ Fiat total cost of ownership: depreciation, running costs and financing through Stellantis Financial Services in Europe and the United States. Sat, 15 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT Stéphane Sprauer Volvo: what it costs to own https://autocostcompared.com/brand/volvo/ https://autocostcompared.com/brand/volvo/ Volvo total cost of ownership: depreciation, running costs and financing through Volvo Car Financial Services in Europe and the United States. Sat, 15 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT Stéphane Sprauer Polestar: what it costs to own https://autocostcompared.com/brand/polestar/ https://autocostcompared.com/brand/polestar/ Polestar total cost of ownership: depreciation, running costs and financing through partner lenders in Europe and the United States. Sat, 15 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT Stéphane Sprauer Kia: what it costs to own https://autocostcompared.com/brand/kia/ https://autocostcompared.com/brand/kia/ Kia total cost of ownership: depreciation, running costs and financing through Kia Finance in Europe and the United States. Sat, 15 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT Stéphane Sprauer Hyundai: what it costs to own https://autocostcompared.com/brand/hyundai/ https://autocostcompared.com/brand/hyundai/ Hyundai total cost of ownership: depreciation, running costs and financing through Hyundai Finance (Hyundai Capital) in Europe and the United States. Sat, 15 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT Stéphane Sprauer Toyota: what it costs to own https://autocostcompared.com/brand/toyota/ https://autocostcompared.com/brand/toyota/ Toyota total cost of ownership: depreciation, running costs and financing through Toyota Financial Services in Europe and the United States. Sat, 15 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT Stéphane Sprauer Nissan: what it costs to own https://autocostcompared.com/brand/nissan/ https://autocostcompared.com/brand/nissan/ Nissan total cost of ownership: depreciation, running costs and financing through Nissan Financial Services in Europe and the United States. Sat, 15 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT Stéphane Sprauer Ford: what it costs to own https://autocostcompared.com/brand/ford/ https://autocostcompared.com/brand/ford/ Ford total cost of ownership: depreciation, running costs and financing through Ford Credit in Europe and the United States. Sat, 15 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT Stéphane Sprauer Chevrolet (GM): what it costs to own https://autocostcompared.com/brand/chevrolet/ https://autocostcompared.com/brand/chevrolet/ Chevrolet (GM) total cost of ownership: depreciation, running costs and financing through GM Financial in the United States. Sat, 15 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT Stéphane Sprauer Rivian: what it costs to own https://autocostcompared.com/brand/rivian/ https://autocostcompared.com/brand/rivian/ Rivian total cost of ownership: depreciation, running costs and financing through partner lenders in the United States. Sat, 15 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT Stéphane Sprauer Lucid: what it costs to own https://autocostcompared.com/brand/lucid/ https://autocostcompared.com/brand/lucid/ Lucid total cost of ownership: depreciation, running costs and financing through partner lenders in the United States. Sat, 15 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT Stéphane Sprauer MINI: what it costs to own https://autocostcompared.com/brand/mini/ https://autocostcompared.com/brand/mini/ MINI total cost of ownership: depreciation, running costs and financing through MINI Financial Services (BMW Group) in Europe and the United States. Sat, 15 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT Stéphane Sprauer Dacia: what it costs to own https://autocostcompared.com/brand/dacia/ https://autocostcompared.com/brand/dacia/ Dacia total cost of ownership: depreciation, running costs and financing through Mobilize Financial Services in Europe. Sat, 15 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT Stéphane Sprauer MG (SAIC): what it costs to own https://autocostcompared.com/brand/mg/ https://autocostcompared.com/brand/mg/ MG (SAIC) total cost of ownership: depreciation, running costs and financing through partner lenders in Europe. Sat, 15 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT Stéphane Sprauer BYD: what it costs to own https://autocostcompared.com/brand/byd/ https://autocostcompared.com/brand/byd/ BYD total cost of ownership: depreciation, running costs and financing through partner lenders in Europe. Sat, 15 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT Stéphane Sprauer Honda: what it costs to own https://autocostcompared.com/brand/honda/ https://autocostcompared.com/brand/honda/ Honda total cost of ownership: depreciation, running costs and financing through Honda Financial Services in Europe and the United States. Sat, 15 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT Stéphane Sprauer Mazda: what it costs to own https://autocostcompared.com/brand/mazda/ https://autocostcompared.com/brand/mazda/ Mazda total cost of ownership: depreciation, running costs and financing through Mazda Financial Services in Europe and the United States. Sat, 15 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT Stéphane Sprauer Subaru: what it costs to own https://autocostcompared.com/brand/subaru/ https://autocostcompared.com/brand/subaru/ Subaru total cost of ownership: depreciation, running costs and financing through partner lenders in Europe and the United States. Sat, 15 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT Stéphane Sprauer Owning a car in Germany: tax, financing and incentives https://autocostcompared.com/country/germany/ https://autocostcompared.com/country/germany/ Germany: how cars are taxed, how they are usually financed, and which reputable lenders operate — structure, not this year’s amounts. Sat, 15 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT Stéphane Sprauer Owning a car in France: tax, financing and incentives https://autocostcompared.com/country/france/ https://autocostcompared.com/country/france/ France: how cars are taxed, how they are usually financed, and which reputable lenders operate — structure, not this year’s amounts. Sat, 15 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT Stéphane Sprauer Owning a car in United Kingdom: tax, financing and incentives https://autocostcompared.com/country/united-kingdom/ https://autocostcompared.com/country/united-kingdom/ United Kingdom: how cars are taxed, how they are usually financed, and which reputable lenders operate — structure, not this year’s amounts. Sat, 15 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT Stéphane Sprauer