The car without a finance payment can feel free. It isn't. Put your own numbers into the calculation and compare the economics of keeping, buying, financing, leasing or subscribing.
1. Start with the car you already have
This is the benchmark. If keeping your current car wins, the calculator will tell you so.
$
$
years
km
L / 100 km
$ / litre
$
$
$
$
$
How much is the hassle worth to you?
$750 / year
Set this to $0 if you genuinely don't mind servicing, registration, repairs and administration. It is your number, not ours.
How much is flexibility worth?
$1,000 / year
This is the value you place on being able to walk away from a vehicle without selling it or carrying its residual-value risk. It is applied as a benefit to the subscription option only.
2. Now imagine replacing it
Describe the alternatives you're actually considering. You can compare all five methods at once; the selected option simply controls which extra inputs are visible.
$
$
years
$
$
$
$
$
$
Finance
$
% p.a.
years
Finance is modelled economically: depreciation is a cost, while the principal is not. Interest is a financing cost. If you sell before the loan ends, the remaining loan balance is accounted for.
Lease
$ / month
years
$ / year
Enter the annual costs your real lease does not cover. A novated lease can have tax effects that this general calculator does not model.
Subscription
$ / week
$ / year
months
Default assumption: insurance, registration, servicing and routine maintenance are included; no mileage limit. Edit the weekly price or extra costs if your subscription differs. The minimum commitment is shown for context; the annual comparison assumes you continue for a full year.
Your result
Estimated economic cost
Annualised cost based on your assumptions. Economic cost includes depreciation and financing costs, but not the return of your own capital. Optional hassle and flexibility values make explicit costs that ordinary car calculators often ignore.
What the calculation counts
A useful reality check
Depreciation is based on the value you enter today and the value you expect later.
Finance uses an amortising loan and accounts for the remaining balance if you sell early.
Tax effects, insurance excesses, opportunity cost of invested cash and unusual repair events are not modelled unless you put them into the inputs.
Change any input and the result updates instantly.