FI showroom red and grey logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Drop in Fuel Prices Pushes 'Cost to Own a Vehicle' to Six-Year Low

Spurred by a nearly 25% drop in fuel price, the annual cost to own and operate a vehicle in the United States has fallen to a six-year low of $8,558, according to AAA’s 2016 Your Driving Costs study. The drop more than offset the increase in every other cost associated with vehicle ownership.

by Staff
April 7, 2016
3 min to read


ORLANDO, Fla. — Spurred by a nearly 25% drop in fuel price, the annual cost to own and operate a vehicle in the United States has fallen to a six-year low of $8,558, according to AAA’s 2016 Your Driving Costs study. This year, the study shows, a driver can expect to spend 57 cents per mile, approximately $713 per month, to cover the fixed and variable costs associated with owning and operating a car.

“Thanks to lower gas prices, American drivers can expect to save hundreds of dollars in fuel costs in 2016,” said John Nielsen, AAA’s managing director of Automotive Engineering and Repair. “Fortunately, this annual savings more than offsets the moderate increases in maintenance, insurance, finance charges and other costs associated with owning and operating a vehicle.”

Ad Loading...

While the price of fuel at the pump dropped a significant amount this year, every other cost associated with driving a vehicle that the study analyzed — insurance, depreciation, maintenance, license, registration, taxes, finance charges and tires — went up.

The cost of insurance saw the highest spike this year, growing 9.60% to $1,222 per year. The AAA study found that a likely reason for the increase in insurance cost lies with the decrease in fuel prices. As drivers are paying less at the pump, they’re willing to drive more, resulting in more miles driven and a greater number of collisions and higher insurance payouts.

The cost of depreciation, the highest ownership expense, rose by 2.87% to $3759 per year due to robust new-car sales and a resulting increase in amount of used and off-lease vehicles entering the marketplace, according to the study.

New-vehicle engines requiring more expensive semi- or full-synthetic motor oils along with an increase in extended warranty pricing and shop labor rates has resulted in a 3.33% increase to $792 per year, or 5.28 cents per mile, for the cost of maintenance for a vehicle.

According to the study, the cost of license, registration and taxes for a vehicle have gone up 3.31% to $687 per year.

Ad Loading...

Finance charges also saw a modest increase in price, according to the study. Finance charges increased 2.09% to $683 a year due to higher new-car prices and increased tax, title, license and registration fees.

The cost of tires has stayed relatively unchanged this year, according to the study. The cost of tires went up by 2.04% to $150 a year or 1 cent per mile.

Based on driving 15,000 miles, the study found that the annual cost for a small sedan would come out to $6,579, a medium sedan would cost a driver $8,604 and a large sedan would cost $10,492.

Contrary to what consumers might expect, the study also found that both four-wheel-drive SUVs and minivans would cost a driver less to drive in a year than a large sedan. The annual cost of driving a four-wheel-drive SUV or minivan, based on 15,000 miles, came out at $10,255 and $9262, respectively.

“One-in-five Americans plan to purchase or lease a new vehicle in the next year, and many consumers may mistakenly believe minivans are more expensive to drive than a large sedan,” Nielsen said. “With lower gas prices, these vehicles offer drivers the flexibility of transporting additional passengers and cargo while remaining more affordable to own and operate compared to a large sedan.”

More F&I

Photo of a keyring with mltiple keys, including a car key fob, on a white surface
F&IJuly 15, 2026

Integrating Nontraditional F&I Products

The niche presents a strategic advantage for auto dealerships as they move to adapt to fast-changing consumer expectations in today’s market.

Read More →
Photo of businessman's hands holding eyeglasses at a desk
F&Iby Rick McCormickJuly 7, 2026

Trust Is Personal

Technology, no matter how efficient, can’t replace what the human F&I manager can do, which is to bridge the divide between cyberspace and the in-store experience.

Read More →
Photo of executive in a sports coat and glasses
Industryby StaffJuly 2, 2026

Amplify 2026 Billed as Turning Innovation Into Results

Reynolds and Reynolds says its annual retail summit will connect dealers with practical strategies, peer insight, and technology-driven ideas.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Woman standing on stage smiling.
F&Iby Lauren LawrenceJuly 1, 2026

Own Your Outcome: F&I in the Digital Customer Journey

Finance has historically been the last step in the car-buying process, but it doesn’t have to be. The customer’s journey starts long before they arrive at the dealership, and so should F&I’s involvement.

Read More →
$100 bill and magnifying glass on top of paper that says insurance policy terms and conditions.
F&Iby Lauren LawrenceJune 29, 2026

Tariffs Could Raise Insurance Premiums

As U.S. import tariffs affect repair costs, consumers might find it more affordable to replace a damaged vehicle, according to recent Insurify tariff analysis.

Read More →
Red toy car sitting on top of coins.
Auto Financeby Lauren LawrenceJune 24, 2026

Smaller Loans, Longer Terms

The youngest generation of car buyers is more likely to finance less expensive vehicles, more than half of generation Z consumers borrowing less than $25,000.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Under the hood of a Toyota Prius EV Hybrid car.
F&Iby StaffJune 15, 2026

New Lifetime Battery F&I Product Meant to Drive Dealer Traffic

EFG Cos. offering is intended to create lifetime auto dealer engagement with customers.

Read More →
Several illustrations of question marks on a surface
F&IJune 10, 2026

The Psychology Behind Menus That Increase Add-On Sales

There is a science to crafting a menu that gives customers confidence in the choices presented, and moving the process outside the F&I office can further boost results.

Read More →
Man holding magnifying glass over sales volume paper.
F&IMay 29, 2026

Why Your F&I PVR Is Misleading You

Here’s a handy checklist of the numbers to track in 2026 instead.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Photo of woman typing on a laptop as she sits on a couch
F&Iby Hannah MitchellMay 29, 2026

Auto Consumer Anxiety Presents Opportunity

A survey of U.S. drivers found the majority are concerned about finances and the economy, but those fears make many ready to buy vehicle-protection products.

Read More →