Half of what your car costs, it costs while it is parked.
The price on the windscreen is the smallest number about a car. Type what you paid, how long you will keep it and how far you drive, and the page adds the line nobody feels: the value the car loses every month whether it moves or not. Petrol, diesel or electric.
Estimated on ADAC's shape: a quarter of the price goes in year one, about half is gone after three, then roughly 8% a year. Type your own if you know your model's used market.
€470 a month. €0.38 per kilometre.
€268 of it, 57%, happens with the engine off: value lost, insurance, tax.
Value lost is the biggest line, €191 a month, more than fuel at €142.
Over 5 years that is €28,191 for a car that cost €20,000.
The method follows ADAC’ Autokosten test: depreciation without interest, running costs at today’ prices, insurance and tax as you pay them. The depreciation shape is theirs too, a quarter of the price in year one, about half gone after three years, then roughly 8% a year; if you know your model’ used market, type your own resale value and the shape steps aside. The number to compare two cars on is not the price, it is the monthly total over the months you will actually keep it.
Common questions
Why is depreciation counted as a cost? I only pay it when I sell.
Because you pay it whether you sell or not; selling is just the day you find out the amount. A €20,000 car worth €8,500 after five years cost you €11,500 to own before a single litre of fuel, about €190 a month. It is the largest line for almost every car under ten years old.
Is leasing cheaper?
A lease is renting the depreciation plus interest and the lessor’ margin, with the resale risk moved to them. It can be cheaper for cars that lose value fast (many electric models in 2026) and dearer for cars that hold it. Run this page with your expected resale, then compare the monthly total with the lease payment plus everything the lease does not include.
What about a used car?
Type the price you paid and the years you will keep it. The curve starts from your purchase, so a three-year-old car loses value more slowly per year than a new one, which is the whole argument for buying used.
Does it work for an electric car?
Yes: switch to electric and enter kWh per 100 km and your price per kWh. Home charging at night and public fast charging differ two to three times in price, so use the mix you actually drive on.