Car Cost Per Mile Calculator
Your car is your biggest business expense. Find out what each mile really costs you.
| Fixed costs per mile (insurance, depreciation, other) | |
| Running costs per mile (maintenance, tires) | |
| Compared with the IRS rate of 72.5¢ |
Results update as you type. Last updated October 2026.
Why cost per mile matters
Gas is only part of what driving costs. Every mile also wears your tires and brakes, moves you closer to the next oil change and repair, and lowers your car's resale value. Knowing your total cost per mile lets you judge offers correctly. If your car costs 40 cents a mile to run, a $5 offer for 8 miles barely covers the car.
Fixed costs vs. running costs
Fixed costs like insurance and registration don't change much with how far you drive. Spreading them over more miles makes each mile cheaper. Running costs like gas, tires and maintenance grow with every mile. Depreciation is a mix of both: cars lose value with age and with mileage.
How to fill this in
- Use a full year of miles, including personal driving, because the costs cover the whole car.
- For depreciation, look up your car's value today on a used-car pricing site, then estimate its value a year from now with 20,000 more miles.
- Look at last year's receipts for maintenance. If you don't have them, $800–$1,200 a year is common for a car driven a lot.
Using your number
Take your cost per mile and put it into the order checker so every offer shows your true profit. If your cost is far above the IRS rate, a more efficient car could pay for itself. Run the numbers with the car upgrade savings calculator.