About 2011 Car Operating Costs

The NRMA conducted an operating cost survey covering over 1,200 vehicles in 17 popular categories as reported by VFACTS an Automotive Industry Authority.

The Survey includes costs that go with car ownership and are unavoidable if you own your own car.

Calculations are prepared for private vehicle ownership in New South Wales, based on the approximate National annual distance of 15,000 kilometres over an ownership cycle of 5 years, using average calculated drive away prices and include Capital costs (Depreciation and Opportunity Costs), Fixed costs (CTP Insurance, Registration & Roadside membership) and variable running costs (Fuel, Tyres, maintenance & Repairs).

Additional to the base calculations, we are excited to offer Members access to our improved on-line calculator for 2011, where you can change not only the price per litre for fuel but now enter insurance premiums and actual delivered price, so you can personalise the operating costs to meet you own circumstances.

Standing costs

Depreciation

Depreciation is calculated using either the calculated drive away prices recommended retail price or the actual delivered price you enter, the calculator uses this value and the forecast residual value for each model (from Glass's Guide an industry expert of vehicle values) to estimate the Depreciation.

Opportunity Interest

Is the potential interest that could have been generated if the funds used to purchase the vehicle had been invested calculated at an interest rate of 6.65 per cent, had not been consumed by depreciation. There has been no provision for the borrowing expense of the capital.

Fixed costs

Vehicle Registration, CTP Insurance and NRMA Membership

The calculations use private registration rates from the NSW RTA and average CTP insurance for NSW assuming an owner driver aged 29-55 years of age. The GST impact has been included. NRMA membership Classic Care rates have been used. No default comprehensive insurance costs have been included as these are a personal choice but their impact can easily be included, use any online insurance premium calculator entering the ages, driving experience and driving history and enter the annual insurance costs and the cents per kilometre and Whole of Life Dollars per week will instantly be recalculated.

Variable costs

Maintenance Repairs

Vehicle maintenance & repair costs are calculated using manufacturers' recommended service schedules at retail prices and include a range of replacement parts including tyres and brake pads, considered appropriate for average city driving conditions..

Fuel

Fuel costs in dollars per week have been calculated using fuel consumption test results carried out to Standards set out in Australian Design Rule ADR79/01, we include an appropriate factor to allow for variations in driving styles and conditions as per previous surveys.

Where ADR79/01 data is not available, average fuel consumption is taken from road tests and research carried out by NRMA Motoring + Services. Average costs for fuel is calculated using the average price per litre for the recommended fuel type for each vehicle using values, the calculator allows the default fuel price to be changed to see what impact it will have on the running costs.

Predicting a reliable cost of fuel for the next 12 months is difficult with the impact of larger global events, hurricanes or conflict and the widespread campaigns of fuel discounting particularly in the larger cities. The cost of fuel can fluctuate wildly depending on where and when you buy fuel.
To estimate the effect of these changes on the costs in this report, use this table to add or subtract from the Private Operating Costs weekly changes in fuel costs.

Average reimbursement rates are a guide only. For infrequent and irregular use, where annual use to be reimbursed exceeds 2,000km/year or trips are regularly greater than 100km in distance, rates will vary.

Private Costs Summary Report (PDF 340KB/65 pages)

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This information is prepared by National Roads and Motorists' Association Limited ABN 77 000 010 506. trading as NRMA Motoring & Services is a company limited by guarantee and owned by its Members. Some of the information is provided by subsidiaries of Insurance Australia Group Limited, a separate company owned by its shareholders. The companies are not related, but have a number of business agreements, which allow both companies and their subsidiaries to use NRMA trademarks for their products and services.