Owning and operating a car will set motorists back 1.9 percent more this year than it did in 2011, according to the annual “Your Driving Costs” study recently issued by the AAA in Orlando, Fla. Motorists now pay an average 58.5 cents per mile, or $8,780 per year, based on driving a typical midsize sedan 15,000 miles annually. These figures consider a vehicle’s depreciation, and expenditures for fuel, tires, maintenance and insurance.
“The average driving cost for 2012 is up due to relatively large increases in fuel and tire costs, and more moderate increases in other areas,” said John Nielsen, AAA’s director of automotive engineering and repair. “Those increases were offset by a decrease in depreciation resulting in an overall increase of 1.9 percent.”
On average, owners of small sedans pay 44.9 cents/mile and $6,735/year for their rides, with those preferring large cars socked with a rate of 75.5 cents/mile and $11.324/year in operating expenses. Minivan owners are subjected to average ownership costs of 63.4 cents/mile and $9,504/year, with SUV aficionados paying 75.7 cents and $11,360/year.
— Jim Gorzelany
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