Car Running Costs Calculator — Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)

For a PLN 80,000 car driven 20,000 km/year, total running costs are approximately PLN 28,000/year (PLN 2,340/month, PLN 1.40/km). The breakdown: depreciation PLN 12,000, fuel PLN 8,680, insurance PLN 3,000, servicing PLN 2,000, parking PLN 2,400.

TCO covers all costs of owning a car: fixed costs (depreciation, insurance) and variable costs (fuel, repairs, parking). TCO lets you compare the true cost of different vehicles and evaluate whether ownership vs. leasing makes financial sense.

The calculator uses 15% annual depreciation as a conservative estimate for cars aged 2-5 years. New cars can lose 25-30% in the first year, while older cars depreciate more slowly. Depreciation is the biggest hidden cost for most car owners.

Third-party (OC) insurance is mandatory in Poland. Cost depends on driving history, age and vehicle — typically PLN 600–1,500/year. Comprehensive (AC) insurance is optional and costs PLN 1,000–3,000/year depending on the car's value. Total OC+AC: usually PLN 1,500–5,000/year.

Fuel is typically 30–40% of total variable costs. The difference between a 5 l/100km and a 10 l/100km car over 20,000 km at PLN 6.20/l is: (10-5)/100 × 20,000 × 6.20 = PLN 6,200/year. Choosing a more economical car can save thousands of PLN annually.

For a mid-range car (PLN 50,000-100,000) driven 15,000-20,000 km/year, the all-in cost per km is typically PLN 1.20–1.80. The statutory mileage rate in Poland (2026) is PLN 1.15/km for cars over 900cc — actual running costs often exceed this rate.

Leasing and buying have different cost structures. With leasing, monthly payments are predictable but you don't own the vehicle. With purchase, capital is tied up and you incur depreciation. For businesses, leasing offers VAT and tax-deductible cost advantages. Compare both options using our leasing calculator.

Monthly parking subscriptions range from PLN 100-300 in smaller cities to PLN 400-800 in central Warsaw. Office building parking: PLN 200-600/month. The calculator uses PLN 200/month as a reasonable default for medium-sized cities.

No — the calculator covers the main ownership and running costs. Polish motorway tolls (e-TOLL) are additional: Autostrada A1/A2/A4 charges vary from PLN 10-80 per trip depending on the route. For frequent motorway users, add these costs manually.

No — the calculator provides indicative estimates for budgeting purposes. For major financial decisions (buying vs. leasing, fleet management, tax optimisation of a company car), consult a qualified financial adviser or accountant.