Car running costs 2025

Finding a car to suit your budget can be tricky. The purchase price is one thing, but what about ongoing running costs? That’s where RAC's 2025 Car Running Costs guide can help.

Over the course of a year, the amount of money you spend to keep your car on the road can easily run into thousands of dollars, particularly if you’re paying off a car loan with interest rates creeping higher. In addition to ongoing running costs, depreciation means the value of your car will be going down, reducing its value significantly as the months and years roll by.

Before you buy a car, it’s worth considering just what the total costs of owning and running it will be as it can vary significantly depending on what you choose.

To help you uncover the true costs of a car before you buy, RAC’s 2025 Car Running Costs guide provides a breakdown of the weekly, monthly and annual costs associated with owning and operating a car in Western Australia.

We assessed more than 50 popular cars across 9 categories, considering the cost of fuel and servicing, loan repayments, along with the initial purchase price, depreciation, the Compulsory Third Party insurance (CTP) that is part of your car registration and general car insurance premiums.

Our Car Running Costs calculations are based on a five-year period from new, driving 15,000km per year in private use. For more details about the assumptions used to calculate these results, see the Calculations Criteria sections below. A full list of results from all vehicles is also available in PDF format below.

Cheapest cars to 'fuel'

Most of the cheapest cars to ‘fuel’ were in the electric vehicle (EV) category. Once again, the BYD Dolphin was the cheapest at just $51.03 per month to charge. In this year’s survey the second cheapest EVs to charge were the Tesla Model 3 and the BYD Seal - both coming in at $55 per month.

Many more hybrids, plug-in hybrids and EVs made the list this year, but among the non-electrified cars, the lightest on fuel was the Mazda 2 in the light passenger car category at $115.94 per month. The cheapest to 'fuel' overall in the light car category was the Toyota Yaris Ascent Sport Hybrid at $72.19 per month - a relatively substantial gap.

In the popular mid-size SUV category, the best for low 'fuel' costs was an EV - the Tesla Model Y at $61.96 per month followed closely by another EV - the Leapmotor C10 at $66.02.

Among the large SUVs, the Toyota Kluger GX Hybrid AWD was the cheapest on fuel with monthly costs of $133. And at $138.39 per month, the diesel-fuelled Kia Sorrento S was not far behind.

Among the 4X4 utes, the BYD Shark 6 - a plug-in hybrid - was the cheapest on fuel at $103.25 per month - 'fuelling' meaning both charging and liquid fuel costs.

Once again, the biggest fuel guzzler overall was the Nissan Patrol Ti l (in the large SUV category). It will set you back $342 in fuel per month.

Cheapest cars to own and run by category

The impact of depreciation

Depreciation is still the single biggest cost of owning a car, despite it being something drivers don’t often consider because it doesn’t become an issue until it comes time to sell the car.

Generally, the more you pay for a vehicle when it’s new, the more dollars you’ll lose in depreciation over the lifetime of the vehicle. That said, the same vehicle may still lose a lower percentage of its initial value than other vehicles, and therefore have lower depreciation in percentage terms.

Among the mid-size SUVs, the Toyota RAV4 GX lost the least to depreciation dropping from its initial purchase price of $46,484 to $25,800 over five years. In the large SUV category, the Toyota Landcruiser LC300 GX lost the least, with a purchase price of $109,99 and a resale after five years of $73,100.

Cheapest light car - MG MG3 Hybrid+ Excite

The MG MG3 Excite Hybrid+ was the cheapest light car to own and run. With an estimated on-road price of $29,710, after five years its trade-in value will be approximately $14,400.

To fuel the MG3, you’ll be paying $102.13 per month. Regular servicing averages out to $50.15 per month.

Adding both standing costs and running costs together, the total cost of owing and keeping the MG3 on the road are $1006.58 per month or $12,078.98 annual running costs.

Runners up:

• Toyota Yaris Ascent Sport Hybrid - $1,011.01 total p/month ($12,132.14 annually)

• Mazda 2 - $1,048.59 p/month ($12,584.29 annually)

Cheapest small passenger car - BYD Dolphin Essential (EV)

The BYD Dolphin Essential was the cheapest small car to own and run. Its estimated on-road price is $32,558.33 and after five years, its trade-in value will be approximately $14,500.

The BYD Dolphin's recharging costs are $51.03 per month, with servicing working out to $22 per month.

Overall, the total cost to own and run the Dolphin will be $972.02 per month, or $11,664.26 total annual cost .

Runners up:

• Hyundai i30 - $10,85.03 p/month ($13,020.31 annually)

• Toyota Corolla Ascent Sport Hybrid - $1,088.76 p/month ($13,065.07 annually)

Cheapest small SUV - Chery Tiggo 4 Urban HEV

The Chery Tiggo 4 Urban HEV is the cheapest small SUV to own and run. Its estimated on-road price is $30,710 and after five years depreciation will bring its value down to $13,900.

Fuel will cost you $118.13 per month, and servicing costs will be $33.75 per month.

The total cost of owning and running the Chery Tiggo is $1,030.02 per month, or $12,360.20 annual cost.

Runners up:

• Hyundai Venue - $1,046.21 p/month ($12,554.54 annually)

• Toyota Yaris Cross GX Hybrid - $1,056.95 p/month ($12,683.51 annually)

Cheapest medium passenger car - Toyota Camry Ascent Hybrid

The cheapest light SUV to own and run is the Toyota Camry Ascent Hybrid. It has an estimated on-road price of $44,168.27 and a trade-in value after five years of $22,000.

Fuel will cost $95 per month, and $30.08 per month in servicing costs.

Together, the total standing costs and running costs come to $1,271.40, or $15,256.81 per year.

Runners up:

• BYD Seal Dynamic - $1,414.71 p/month ($16,976.56 annually)

• Tesla Model 3 - $1,606.73 p/month ($19,280.72 annually)

Cheapest people mover - Hyundai Staria US4

The Hyundai Staria US4 is the cheapest people mover to own and run. With an estimated on-road price of $54,759.60 and a trade-in value after five years of $24,000, you'll be paying around $229.69 per month for fuel and $47.55 for servicing per month.

Overall, it will cost $1,680.37 to own and run the Staria per month, or $20,164.43 per year.

Runners up:

• Kia Carnival - $1,710.49 p/month ($20,525.86 annually)

• Ford Tourneo Custom Active - $2,010.73 p/month ($24,128.73 annually)

Cheapest medium SUV - GWM Haval H6 Lux Hybrid

In this popular category, the cheapest medium-size SUV to own and run is the GWM Haval H6 Lux Hybrid. It has an estimated on-road price of $41,711.90 and a trade-in value after five years of $14,900.

Fuel will cost $113.75 per month, with servicing costs at $36.33 per month.

Together, the total standing costs and running costs come to $1,266.02 per month, or $15,192.30 over a year.

Runners up:

• BYD Sealion 6 Essential - $1,266.25 p/month ($15,195.02 annually)

• Mazda CX-5 G20 Max - $1,288.73 p/month ($15,464.75 annually)

Cheapest large SUV - Subaru Outback AWD

The Subaru Outback AWD is the cheapest large SUV to own and run. Its estimated on-road price is $49,295.04 and its trade-in value after five years is $24,900.

You can expect to pay $159.69 per month in fuel and $54.84 per month in servicing costs.

Total standing and running costs per month are $1,530.65 or $18,367.79 annually.

Runners up:

• Kia Sorrento S - $1,675.35 p/month ($20,104.22 annually)

• Toyota Kluger GX Hybrid - $1,782.75 p/month ($21,393.07 annually)

Cheapest 2WD ute - Mazda BT-50 XS

The cheapest 2WD ute to own and run is the Mazda BT-50 XS. The BT-50's estimated on-road price is $40,160.72 and its trade-in value after five years is $17,900.

Fuel costs are $158.81 per month, and servicing is $47.69 per month.

Overall, to own and run this ute you'll be paying $1,297.63 per month, or $15,571.61 annually.

Runners up:

• Mitsubishi Triton GLX - $1,309.75 p/month ($15,717.07 annually)

• Toyota Hilux Workmate Hi-Rider - $1,314.21 p/month ($15,770.60 annually)

Cheapest 4WD ute - BYD Shark

The cheapest 4WD ute to own and run is the BYD Shark plug-in hybrid. Its estimated on-road price is $60,734.25 and its trade-in value after five years is $29,500.

Expect to pay $103.25 to 'fuel' it per month (including charging costs) and $45.65 in servicing per month.

Combined standing costs and running costs come to $1,636.23 per month, or $19,634.76 over a year.

Runners up:

• Mitsubishi Triton GSR - $1,903.80 p/month ($22,845.56 annually)

• Isuzu D-Max X-Terrain - $2,100.12 p/month ($25,201.46 annually)

Download the complete breakdown of Western Australia's cheapest cars to own and run.

Car Running Costs Guide 2025 (PDF 444 KB)