Your Real Car Cost Comparison Tool
Compare actual 5-year costs: insurance, fuel, repairs, depreciation. Start with any two models and see side-by-side costs—not just specs.
Total Cost of Ownership
Insurance, fuel, maintenance, depreciation—all in one place
Real Reliability Data
Crowdsourced problems and repair costs from real owners
Budget-Focused
Find the best car for your budget, not just the fastest
Visualize five-year ownership costs before you buy
We combine insurance premiums, fuel spend, maintenance, repairs, and depreciation into a single view. Each comparison highlights where the money goes—so you can pick the car that keeps more cash in your pocket.
2024 Toyota Camry SE
$27,900
Five-year total cost of ownership
2024 Honda Accord EX
$27,700
Five-year total cost of ownership
Example data based on averaged owner submissions and insurer filings for 12k annual miles. Update cycles run on the first business day of each month.
What Makes Us Different
We don't compete on volume. We focus on the data that actually helps you make smarter car buying decisions.
TCO Calculator
Calculate total ownership costs including insurance, fuel, maintenance, and depreciation over 5 years.
Common Problems Database
Structured data on known issues for popular models. No more digging through forums.
Real Fuel Economy
Crowdsourced MPG data from actual owners, not just EPA estimates.
Owner Reviews
Real maintenance records and repair costs submitted by the community.
Side-by-Side Comparison
Visual charts comparing annual costs, reliability scores, and ownership expenses.
Long-Tail Searches
Find answers to specific questions like "Honda Civic vs Toyota Corolla maintenance cost".
How It Works
Four simple steps to find your perfect car based on real ownership costs.
Select Cars to Compare
Choose from our curated list of the 50 most popular models in North America.
View Real-World Data
See actual maintenance costs, insurance rates, and reliability scores from real owners.
Calculate Total Cost
Use our TCO calculator to see the full 5-year ownership cost breakdown.
Make Your Decision
Choose the car that fits your budget and needs, backed by real data.
Popular Comparisons
See how popular models stack up in real-world ownership costs
Toyota Camry vs Honda Accord
Complete cost breakdown
Toyota Camry saves
$2,400
over 5 years ($480/yr)
- Reliability edge+0.4
- Fuel economy delta+1.8 MPG
Honda Civic vs Toyota Corolla
Complete cost breakdown
Toyota Corolla saves
$1,800
over 5 years ($360/yr)
- Reliability edge+0.6
- Fuel economy delta+2.1 MPG
Mazda CX-5 vs Honda CR-V
Complete cost breakdown
Mazda CX-5 saves
$3,200
over 5 years ($640/yr)
- Reliability edge+0.5
- Fuel economy delta+1.4 MPG
Toyota RAV4 vs Mazda CX-5
Complete cost breakdown
Mazda CX-5 saves
$2,100
over 5 years ($420/yr)
- Reliability edge+0.3
- Fuel economy delta+0.9 MPG
Subaru Outback vs Honda CR-V
Complete cost breakdown
Honda CR-V saves
$2,800
over 5 years ($560/yr)
- Reliability edge+0.2
- Fuel economy delta+1.1 MPG
Ford F-150 vs Chevrolet Silverado
Complete cost breakdown
Ford F-150 saves
$4,500
over 5 years ($900/yr)
- Reliability edge+0.5
- Fuel economy delta+0.8 MPG
Built to be trusted
We publish exactly where our numbers come from so you can rely on every comparison result.
Data Sources
Insurance filings, EPA fuel datasets, parts suppliers, and 18k owner submissions.
Update Frequency
Monthly rollups with weekly anomaly checks to keep depreciation and repairs current.
Quality Control
Automated outlier detection plus human review on 5% sample of community reports.
Community Verified
Users can flag data points; 92% are approved within 24 hours by our analyst team.
Trusted by Smart Car Buyers
Real people making better decisions with real cost data
I was torn between a Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla. CompareCar's TCO calculator showed me the Civic would cost $2,400 more over 5 years due to insurance and maintenance. Saved me from a costly mistake!
The reliability data is gold. I almost bought a 2015 model with known transmission issues. CompareCar's common problems database saved me thousands in potential repairs.
Finally, a site that shows REAL costs, not just sticker prices. The fuel and maintenance breakdowns helped me choose a minivan that fits our family budget long-term.
I've used every car site out there. CompareCar is the only one that digs into ownership costs with real data. The side-by-side comparisons are incredibly detailed.
I drive 30k miles a year. The TCO calculator let me adjust for my high mileage and showed me which cars would actually be cheaper to own. Game changer!
As a new grad on a tight budget, I needed to know the FULL cost of ownership. CompareCar broke down every expense so I could make a smart decision with my first car purchase.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about comparing car ownership costs
Ready to Find Your Perfect Car?
Stop guessing. Start comparing real ownership costs and make a data-driven decision.
Start Comparing Now