Depreciation Cost Per Mile

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 75 views

What is the Cost Per Mile Over the Course of a Year for a $30,000 Car?

When it comes to owning a car, there are various costs associated with it, including depreciation, maintenance, insurance, and fuel. In this article, we will calculate the cost per mile over the course of a year for a $30,000 car that depreciates 20%, with costs shown in the table, and that has been driven for 10,000 miles.

For the purpose of this calculation, we will make the following assumptions:

The car is purchased for $30,000.
The car depreciates 20% per year.
The car is driven for 10,000 miles per year.
The costs associated with owning the car are as shown in the table below.

Expense	Cost
Depreciation	$6,000 (20% of $30,000)
Insurance	$1,200 (4% of $30,000)
Maintenance	$1,500 (5% of $30,000)
Fuel	$2,000 (assuming 25mpg and $0.50 per gallon)
Registration	$500
Total	$11,200

To calculate the cost per mile, we need to divide the total cost by the number of miles driven.

Total Cost

The total cost of owning the car for a year is $11,200.

Number of Miles Driven

The car is driven for 10,000 miles per year.

Cost Per Mile

To calculate the cost per mile, we divide the total cost by the number of miles driven:

$11,200 ÷ 10,000 miles = $1.12 per mile

Depreciation Cost Per Mile

The depreciation cost per mile is calculated by dividing the depreciation cost by the number of miles driven:

$6,000 ÷ 10,000 miles = $0.60 per mile

Insurance Cost Per Mile

The insurance cost per mile is calculated by dividing the insurance cost by the number of miles driven:

$1,200 ÷ 10,000 miles = $0.12 per mile

Maintenance Cost Per Mile

The maintenance cost per mile is calculated by dividing the maintenance cost by the number of miles driven:

$1,500 ÷ 10,000 miles = $0.15 per mile

Fuel Cost Per Mile

The fuel cost per mile is calculated by dividing the fuel cost by the number of miles driven:

$2,000 ÷ 10,000 miles = $0.20 per mile

Registration Cost Per Mile

The registration cost per mile is calculated by dividing the registration cost by the number of miles driven:

$500 ÷ 10,000 miles = $0.05 per mile

In conclusion, the cost per mile over the course of a year for a $30,000 car that depreciates 20%, with costs shown in the table, and that has been driven for 10,000 miles is $1.12 per mile. The depreciation cost per mile is $0.60, the insurance cost per mile is $0.12, the maintenance cost per mile is $0.15, the fuel cost per mile is $0.20, and the registration cost per mile is $0.05.

Based on the calculations above, we can make the following recommendations:

To reduce the cost per mile, consider purchasing a car with a lower depreciation rate.
To reduce the insurance cost per mile, consider purchasing a car with a lower insurance rate.
To reduce the maintenance cost per mile, consider purchasing a car with a lower maintenance rate.
To reduce the fuel cost per mile, consider purchasing a car with a higher fuel efficiency.
To reduce the registration cost per mile, consider purchasing a car with a lower registration rate.

In the future, we can conduct further research on the cost per mile of different types of cars, including electric and hybrid cars. We can also investigate the impact of different driving habits on the cost per mile.

This study has several limitations. First, the costs associated with owning a car can vary depending on the location and other factors. Second, the depreciation rate of 20% per year may not be accurate for all cars. Third, the fuel efficiency of 25mpg may not be accurate for all cars. Finally, the registration cost per mile may not be accurate for all cars.

In our previous article, we calculated the cost per mile over the course of a year for a $30,000 car that depreciates 20%, with costs shown in the table, and that has been driven for 10,000 miles. In this article, we will answer some frequently asked questions (FAQs) about the cost per mile of a $30,000 car.

Q: What is the total cost of owning a $30,000 car for a year?

A: The total cost of owning a $30,000 car for a year is $11,200.

Q: What is the cost per mile of a $30,000 car?

A: The cost per mile of a $30,000 car is $1.12 per mile.

Q: What is the depreciation cost per mile of a $30,000 car?

A: The depreciation cost per mile of a $30,000 car is $0.60 per mile.

Q: What is the insurance cost per mile of a $30,000 car?

A: The insurance cost per mile of a $30,000 car is $0.12 per mile.

Q: What is the maintenance cost per mile of a $30,000 car?

A: The maintenance cost per mile of a $30,000 car is $0.15 per mile.

Q: What is the fuel cost per mile of a $30,000 car?

A: The fuel cost per mile of a $30,000 car is $0.20 per mile.

Q: What is the registration cost per mile of a $30,000 car?

A: The registration cost per mile of a $30,000 car is $0.05 per mile.

Q: How can I reduce the cost per mile of my car?

A: There are several ways to reduce the cost per mile of your car, including:

Purchasing a car with a lower depreciation rate
Purchasing a car with a lower insurance rate
Purchasing a car with a lower maintenance rate
Purchasing a car with a higher fuel efficiency
Purchasing a car with a lower registration rate

Q: What are some other costs associated with owning a car?

A: Some other costs associated with owning a car include:

Parking fees
Tolls
Traffic tickets
Car washes
Oil changes
Tire rotations

Q: How can I estimate the cost per mile of my car?

A: To estimate the cost per mile of your car, you can use the following formula:

Cost per mile = (Total cost of owning the car / Number of miles driven)

Q: What is the average cost per mile of a car in the United States?

A: The average cost per mile of a car in the United States is around $0.50 per mile.

In conclusion, the cost per mile of a $30,000 car is $1.12 per mile. The depreciation cost per mile is $0.60, the insurance cost per mile is $0.12, the maintenance cost per mile is $0.15, the fuel cost per mile is $0.20, and the registration cost per mile is $0.05. We hope this article has been helpful in answering some of the frequently asked questions about the cost per mile of a $30,000 car.