5-year cost of owning a car in South Africa
Pick up to 3 cars and see what each costs over the years you'll keep it: the official list price, fuel or electricity, servicing after the plan ends and licence fees. Add your own insurance quote and expected resale value if you have them.
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How this works. Price is the brand's official recommended retail price on the date shown (not a quote; on-the-road costs vary). Fuel or electricity = km × the brand's claimed use × the price above, held flat over the years (real-world use is usually higher). Petrol: official 95 inland price (2026-10-07); diesel: official 50ppm Gauteng wholesale price (2026-10-07); electricity R3.6/kWh plus 10% charging losses (plug-in hybrids: 70% of km on electricity, 6 L/100km otherwise, our estimate). Servicing is R0 while the brand's published service or maintenance plan applies (whichever of its years or km runs out first at your km), then your yearly estimate: the R6 000 default is only a placeholder, so change it. Service plans cover scheduled services, not tyres, brakes or other wear items. Licence fees depend on your province and the car's tare mass, which brands rarely publish, so pick your Gauteng tare band (official Provincial Gazette table) or enter the amount on your renewal notice for other provinces. Insurance and resale depend on you, so we don't estimate them: get your own insurance quote. Information only; we don't sell cars, finance or insurance.
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