One factor in the total cost of ownership that people overlook is depreciation, so let's start there. Edmunds data shows a range of depreciation for vehicles between 6% and 45% of MSRP after the first year of ownership. On average, though, new cars lose 23.5% of their MSRP after a year. In addition to each vehicle's depreciation, these components factor into the annual cost of ownership:
Taxes and fees
Fuel
Maintenance
Repairs
Federal tax credit, if applicable
Financing costs (interest)
Insurance premiums
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