Printable Worksheet

Total Cost of Ownership Sheet

A printable Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) Sheet turns the price of a car into the cost of owning it. Add the purchase price, loan, and every annual cost — fuel, insurance, maintenance and registration — over the years you plan to keep it, subtract what you expect to recover when you sell or trade, and print a one-page estimate. In 2026 the numbers that matter most are a $4.06/gal gas price (AAA, retrieved 2026-08-06), new-car loan rates near 6.39% and used near 11.43% (Experian Q1 2026), and a federal EV credit that no longer exists.

What this sheet adds up

Total cost of ownership = sticker price + sales tax + loan interest + fuel + insurance + maintenance + registration, minus the resale value you recover. The sticker is only the first line — depreciation and ownership costs usually dominate over a typical 5-year hold. Use this sheet next to the Car Affordability Check so the car you can finance is also the car you can afford to own.

5-yr net TCO $68,103

Vehicle (make / model / year)Sticker priceDown paymentTrade-in valueSales tax rate (%)Loan term (years)Loan APR (%)Holding period (years)Miles per yearFuel economy (mpg)Gas price ($/gal)Insurance ($/yr)Maintenance & repairs ($/yr)Registration & fees ($/yr)Expected resale valueOwner / prepared byDate

Total Cost of Ownership Sheet

A one-page estimate of what this car costs across the time you own it. Planning aid only — not financial advice.

Vehicle: —Prepared by: —Date: 2026-08-14

Purchase & financing

Sticker price$35,000

Sales tax (7%)$2,450

Down payment- $7,000

Trade-in—

Amount financed$30,450

Loan payment (5 yr @ 6.39%)$594 / mo

Total loan payments$35,653

Total interest$5,203

Annual ownership (per year)

Fuel (12,000 mi @ 28 mpg, $4.06/gal)$1,740

Insurance$2,150

Maintenance & repairs$1,200

Registration & fees$0

Total per year$5,090

× 5 years$25,450

Total outlay (price + interest + ownership)

$68,103

Expected resale value

- $0

Net 5-year cost of ownership

$68,103

Cost rates

Effective monthly (all-in, excl. resale)$1,135

Effective monthly (net of resale)$1,135

Cost per mile$1.14

Assumptions used

Sticker / down / trade$35,000 / $7,000 / $0

Tax / term / APR7% / 5y / 6.39%

Miles / mpg / gas12,000 / 28 / $4.06

Holding period5 years (60,000 mi)

Sources & retrieval: gas $4.06/gal (AAA Daily Fuel Gauge Report, 2026-08-06); new-car loan APR 6.39% / used 11.43% (Experian Q1 2026); insurance is a representative $2,150/yr from the VehCalc 2026 state dataset and is editable; maintenance is a published industry average and is editable. This sheet is a planning aid only — not financial advice. Confirm all figures with your lender, insurer, DMV and a licensed auto or finance professional.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is included in total cost of ownership?

Total cost of ownership adds the purchase price and loan interest, sales tax and fees, then every recurring cost you pay while you own the car — fuel, insurance, maintenance and registration — and subtracts the resale value you recover when you sell or trade. The sticker price is only the starting point.

Is the resale value required?

No. Leave it at 0 to see your gross cost of ownership, then enter an estimate from the Depreciation Curve tool to see your net cost. The sheet shows both so you can compare.

Where do the default numbers come from?

Defaults mirror VehCalc 2026 datasets: gas $4.06/gal (AAA, retrieved 2026-08-06), new-car loan APR 6.39% and used 11.43% (Experian Q1 2026), and a representative $2,150/yr insurance from the state dataset. Maintenance uses a published industry average. Every field is editable so you can use your own quotes.

How do I print or save the sheet?

Fill in the fields, then click "Print TCO Sheet (Letter)" and choose Save as PDF or a US Letter printer. Only the one-page sheet prints — inputs and buttons are hidden.

Related tools

VehCalc provides estimates only. Vehicle prices, fuel, insurance, depreciation, loan terms and resale values vary by location, lender, vehicle and driver. This is not financial advice — verify all figures with your lender, insurer, DMV and a licensed auto or finance professional before purchasing.

Updated August 2026 · Planning aid only; confirm all details with your lender, insurer and DMV.