New Car Ownership Costs Hit $12,863 Average per Year, AAA Study

New car ownership costs hit $12,863 average per year, AAA study

A recent AAA study found that the average annual cost to own and operate a new vehicle rose to $12,863 due to higher fuel prices, depreciation, and finance charges.

AAA Puts Annual Vehicle Ownership Cost at $12,863 as EVs and Hybrids Enter Category Averages

The average cost to own and operate a new vehicle reached $12,863 a year, or $1,071.92 a month, according to AAA’s 2026 Your Driving Costs analysis released Sept. 15. The study retires the standalone hybrid and electric vehicle categories AAA used in prior editions and distributes those models into the body-style categories that previously held …

AAA: New Vehicle Ownership Costs Hit $12,863 A Year As EVs And Hybrids Go Mainstream

For more than 75 years, AAA’s Your Driving Costs (YDC) analysis has helped drivers understand the full cost of vehicle ownership. This year’s analysis finds that the average annual cost to own and operate a new vehicle is $12,863, or $1,071.92 per month. This reflects continued increases from fuel prices, depreciation, and finance charges. In 2025, […]

AAA: New Vehicle Ownership Costs Hit $12,863 Annually – AAA Newsroom

ORLANDO, FL. (September 15, 2026) – For more than 75 years, AAA’s Your Driving Costs (YDC) analysis has helped drivers understand the full cost of vehicle ownership. This year’s analysis finds that the average annual cost to own and operate a new vehicle is $12,863, or $1,071.92 per month. This reflects continued increases from fuel [...]