Despite the economic downturn and lower gas prices, a recent report compiled by AA shows that the cost of driving is basically the same in 2009 as it was in 2008. For instance, if you are driving a sedan 15,000 a year from your Doylestown area Honda dealer, you may expect to pay about $8,000 a year for gas, maintenance, insurance and other costs associated with automobiles. In 2009, that cost is going to stay about the same, give or take a few dollars. On average, you may expect to pay roughly 55 cents per mile.
On the other hand, if you are driving your SUV, your savings may increase. Between 2008 and 2009, the cost of owning an SUV dropped by more than 1.3 per mile. That makes the average cost per mile about 68 cents.
One of the reasons that costs have not gone down despite the lower gas prices is due to the higher prices to meet fuel economy standards in the industry. “While motorists are experiencing relief at the pump,” said AAA Automotive Vice President Marshall L. Doney, “those savings have been countered by revised Environmental Protection Agency fuel economy estimates and increases in vehicle ownership costs such as insurance premiums, depreciation, finance charges and other fees and taxes. ”
You can read more about how AAA calculates the cost of owning particular types of vehicles in this article.