Car total cost of ownership calculator (TCO)

A car’s total cost of ownership (TCO) shows what owning it really costs: depreciation (purchase price minus residual value), fuel or charging, car tax, insurance, maintenance and the one-off registration fee. The biggest cost is often depreciation, not fuel.

Car tax is calculated with the Estonian Tax Board formula for each year of ownership: a €50 base, a CO₂ part and a weight part, reduced by an age coefficient as the car gets older. The registration fee is paid once, at first registration or change of owner; the Transport Administration calculator gives the exact amount.

Default prices: petrol €1.95/l and diesel €2.13/l (Estonian average, November 2026); home charging ~€0.20/kWh including network fees and taxes, and public charging ~€0.40/kWh. Insurance, maintenance and depreciation are examples – they depend on the car, its age and the driver. Studies put depreciation over 3 years at about 35–42%, hence a default of 15% a year; foreign studies find EV maintenance ~30–50% cheaper.

For a direct EV vs petrol/diesel comparison with payback time, see the electric car payback calculator.