Carculator Car Cost Planner

Compare the true cost of running and switching cars in the UK — fuel, road tax, depreciation and more. Instant plate lookup, break-even insight, and completely free.

Know the real cost of your car before you change it.

Carculator is a UK car cost calculator that goes beyond the sticker price. Whether you're thinking about switching to an EV, wondering if that upgrade is worth it, or trying to decide between repairing your current car or buying something new — Carculator gives you the honest numbers.

COMPARE TWO CARS SIDE BY SIDE Enter your current vehicle and any prospective car, and Carculator calculates the full cost of ownership for both — fuel, road tax (VED), servicing, MOT, insurance, tyres, and depreciation. See exactly which car costs you less, and when the switch actually pays off.

BREAK-EVEN INSIGHT The question every car buyer should ask is "when does switching pay off?" Carculator answers it. If switching is cheaper, you'll see "switching pays off after 2 years 4 months at your mileage." If it never breaks even, it tells you that too.

REGISTRATION LOOKUP Enter your plate and Carculator pulls your vehicle details directly from the DVLA — make, year, fuel type, CO₂, engine size, MOT status, and road tax band. No manual entry needed.

RUNS ON REAL UK NUMBERS

• VED calculated from your vehicle's actual CO₂ band, including the 2026/27 luxury supplement
• MOT costs from year 3, at the standard £54.85 fee
• EV home charger cost built into year-one calculations
• PHEV dual mileage tracking — split your fossil and electric miles
• GAP insurance factored into your year-one costs

TWO WAYS TO ANALYSE

• Standard: Compare any two cars head to head
• Single Vehicle: See the full ownership cost of one car over time

YOUR GARAGE Save your vehicles once. Carculator remembers them, so every new comparison starts in seconds. Keep a history of every car you've compared, including ones you've already bought or sold.

CASH SPENT VS TRUE TOTAL COST Choose what matters to you. Cash Spent shows the money you'll actually pay out. True Total Cost adds depreciation for the full economic picture. View totals, monthly costs, or cost per mile.

REPAIR OR REPLACE? Have a repair quote but wondering if you'd be better off switching? Enter the repair cost alongside the prospective car and Carculator tells you exactly when — or if — switching beats the repair.

COMPLETELY FREE Carculator is free. All comparison types, all analysis periods (1–7 years), and the full garage are available to every user — no subscription, no paywall.

If you find it useful, there's an optional tip inside. No pressure.

Your data stays on your device. No account required. No tracking.

Questions? hello@carculator.uk