Car running costs calculator

Average annual running costs for a passenger car in Poland range from PLN 8,000 to PLN 20,000 depending on model, age and intensity of use, including insurance (PLN 1,000–5,000), fuel (PLN 3,600–7,200), servicing (PLN 400–2,000) and tyres (PLN 400–1,500).

Cost per km = total annual costs ÷ annual mileage (km). Example: PLN 10,000/year at 15,000 km/year = PLN 0.67/km. This metric is useful when comparing vehicles or deciding between owning a car and using taxis or rental.

Fixed costs (independent of mileage): insurance OC/AC, road tax, GPS subscription, lease/loan instalment. Variable costs (mileage-dependent): fuel, servicing and repairs, tyre wear. One-off costs: registration, roadworthiness test (every 2 years ≈ PLN 200).

Third-party liability (OC) averages PLN 600–1,500/year for an experienced driver, up to PLN 3,000–5,000 for young or new drivers. Comprehensive cover (AC) adds PLN 1,000–3,500/year depending on car value and claims history. Prices have been rising 10–20% per year recently.

Tyres are typically replaced every 4–6 years or 40,000–60,000 km. A set of summer or winter tyres costs PLN 800–3,000. With separate rims for winter, add storage (PLN 250–400/season) or fitting (PLN 100–200). Effective annual tyre cost: PLN 400–1,500.

Mandatory roadworthiness test: PLN 150–250 (annually for cars over 5 years old). Service interval (oil, filters, brakes): budget car PLN 300–600/year, mid-range PLN 600–1,200/year, premium PLN 1,500–4,000/year. Set aside 5–10% of car value annually for unexpected repairs.

EVs have lower variable costs: charging a 60 kWh battery costs about PLN 50 vs PLN 150–200 for a petrol tank. Annual fuel savings at 15,000 km: PLN 3,000–6,000. However, fixed costs may be higher: EV insurance is 20–40% more expensive and battery replacement after 8–12 years costs PLN 30,000–50,000.

Compare insurance on price-comparison sites every year (save 20–40%), keep up with servicing to prevent costly breakdowns, maintain correct tyre pressure (saves 3–5% on fuel), choose cheaper fuel stations, practise eco-driving and keep service records to maintain resale value.

Depreciation is the loss of a vehicle's value over time — a significant but often overlooked cost. A new car loses about 20–25% in year one, then 10–15% per year. For a PLN 80,000 car that is PLN 8,000–20,000 per year. Calculate it as (purchase price − resale value) ÷ planned years of ownership.

Own car cost per km (typically PLN 0.40–1.20/km) vs alternatives: taxi/Uber PLN 2–5/km, long-term rental PLN 0.70–1.50/km all-inclusive, train/bus PLN 0.15–0.50/km. At below 8,000–10,000 km/year, giving up a car in favour of public transport and occasional rental is often cheaper.