The Real Costs of Driving

With fuel prices rising there's lots of advice going around about how to lower transportation costs. I hear everything from "hypermilling" to making sure your tires are always full. The biggest consideration on cutting back on driving costs is to determine whether you can get rid of your car entirely.

Getting rid of your car sounds extreme, and might be for some. However, if you're one of the millions of American families with more than one vehicle, consider sharing and downgrading. If you live near public transporation routes, consider using them.

The total cost of vehicle ownership is higher than most think. Besides pumping fuel for every inch of distance you drive, cars require continuous insurance payments and maintenence. Most importantly, cars come with a high opportunity cost on their value.

Opportunity cost is something we don't often consider when holding assets or buying things we don't really need. For instance, say that you have $15K in credit card debt with a 15% APR and just so happen to own a car that costs that much. Opportunity cost is the concept that if you hold the car you are stuck paying interest on that other debt, whereas if you sold it you could pay off the balance. In this case, it means you're paying roughly $185 per month on pure interest expense!

Adding insurance, gas, amortized maintenance costs, and opportunity cost of capital, the monthly cost of driving can easily reach $500 per vehicle. Selling a car could easily mean the difference between being under the water on your bills or financially solvent.

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Rob Viglione is a author, investment manager, and real estate broker. If you like this article check out The Freedom Factory where Rob and his team discuss everything from personal finance, economics, investing, to current events.

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