Blog post -
Typical vehicle running costs - for a diesel engine car
The RAC, in conjunction with Emmerson Hill Associates, has compiled the following guide to the motoring costs of running, from new:
- a privately-owned diesel car
- for a period of three years from 2016
- assuming an annual mileage of 10,000 miles
The data below is provided without warranty.
| Engine size (cc) | up to 1400 | up to 1400 | 1401 to 2000 | 2001 to 2200 | 2001 to 2200 | 2201 to 2500 | 2501 to 3000 | over 3000 |
| Assumed fuel consumption (mpg) | 60 | 58 | 53 | 42 | 40 | 39 | 36 | 34 |
| CO2 emissions level (g/km) | under 120 | 121-150 | 151-165 | 166-185 | 186-225 | 226-255 | 255 plus | 255 plus |
| New cost incl all taxes (incl first year's VED / 'showroom tax') | £9,750 | £9,950 | £13,750 | £19,750 | £21,500 | £24,950 | £29,750 | £31,500 |
| Average value @ 3 years | £3,950 | £4,250 | £5,950 | £8,250 | £8,750 | £9,650 | £11,750 | £12,250 |
| Projected depreciation | £5,800 | £5,700 | £7,800 | £11,500 | £12,750 | £15,300 | £18,000 | £19,250 |
| Finance charges @ 4.8% APR | £722 | £736 | £1,018 | £1,462 | £1,591 | £1,846 | £2,202 | £2,331 |
| Servicing & maintenance | £520 | £520 | £760 | £1,075 | £1,075 | £1,440 | £1,520 | £1,650 |
| Tyres & replacement parts | £350 | £350 | £475 | £595 | £595 | £625 | £650 | £750 |
| Insurance premiums over 3 years | £1,050 | £1,050 | £1,335 | £1,650 | £1,650 | £2,520 | £3,225 | £3,750 |
| VED for years 2 and 3 | £60 | £260 | £360 | £450 | £570 | £970 | £1,000 | £1,000 |
| RAC membership over 3 years | £495 | £495 | £495 | £495 | £495 | £495 | £495 | £495 |
| Total cost over 3 year period | £8,997 | £9,111 | £12,243 | £17,227 | £18,726 | £23,196 | £27,092 | £29,226 |
| Annual cost | £2,999 | £3,037 | £4,081 | £5,742 | £6,242 | £7,732 | £9,031 | £9,742 |
| Cost Per Mile (CPM) excl diesel | 30.0p | 30.4p | 40.8p | 57.4p | 62.4p | 77.3p | 90.3p | 97.4p |
| + Diesel CPM @ £0.90/litre | 6.8p | 7.1p | 7.7p | 9.8 | 10.3p | 10.5p | 11.4p | 12.1 |
| + Diesel CPM @ £0.95/litre | 7.2p | 7.4p | 8.1p | 10.3p | 10.8p | 11.1p | 12.0p | 12.7p |
| + Diesel CPM @ £1.00/litre | 7.6p | 7.8p | 8.6p | 10.8p | 11.4p | 11.7p | 12.6p | 13.4p |
| + Diesel CPM @ £1.05/litre | 8.0p | 8.2p | 9.0p | 11.4p | 11.9p | 12.2p | 13.3p | 14.0p |
| + Diesel CPM @ £1.10/litre | 8.3p | 8.6p | 9.4p | 11.9p | 12.5p | 12.8p | 13.9p | 14.7p |
| + Diesel CPM @ £1.15/litre | 8.7p | 9.0p | 9.8p | 12.4p | 13.1p | 13.4p | 14.5p | 15.4p |
| + Diesel CPM @ £1.20/litre | 9.1p | 9.4p | 10.3p | 13.0p | 13.6p | 14.0p | 15.1p | 16.0p |
