Car Affordability Calculator — United Kingdom
Check whether a car fits your budget: income, expenses, deposit and running costs. For United Kingdom drivers this uses real local figures where we have them — a MOT costs about £54.85 per test and annual vehicle excise duty (VED) is around £190 per year. Prices default to GBP and UK miles per gallon.
Loading the interactive calculator… if it does not appear, JavaScript is disabled — use the inputs below the calculator or visit the tool with JavaScript enabled.
Why cost of ownership matters
The purchase price is only the beginning. Fuel or electricity, insurance, vehicle excise duty (VED), the MOT, servicing, tyres, repairs and depreciation together usually cost more than the car itself over a few years. Use this tool to see the full picture before you buy.
How to use this calculator
Enter realistic figures for your situation — what you actually pay for insurance, what you expect to drive in a year — and the tool breaks the total down into monthly, weekly, yearly and per-distance costs. Adjust any figure and the results update instantly.
Frequently asked questions
How much car can I afford?
Enter your income, regular expenses, deposit and expected running costs, and the tool shows what fits per month and per year in GBP without leaving you stretched.
Does it include running costs?
Yes — and that is the point. Fuel or electricity, insurance, vehicle excise duty (VED), the MOT, servicing and depreciation are usually more than the monthly payment, so a car that looks affordable on finance alone can still be too expensive.
What should the deposit be?
There is no single figure that suits everyone. Try your real numbers: the tool recalculates instantly, so you can see what a larger deposit does to the monthly cost before you negotiate.
Is this financial advice?
No. It is an estimate based on the figures you enter, for planning only. Check current rates and your own budget before signing anything.
Estimate only: results depend entirely on the inputs. Prices and rates change; check current official sources before committing.