I own a car · Guide for New Hampshire
The real cost of owning a car, by vehicle type
The price is the least of it. What you pay every year in depreciation, insurance, fuel and maintenance decides whether the car suits you.
The average new car in the United States costs $11,577 a year to own and operate: about 77 cents per mile at 15,000 miles (AAA, 2025). And the biggest piece is not gas or the shop: it is depreciation, the money the car loses in value while it sleeps in your driveway. This guide takes that number apart by vehicle type so you can compare it with yours.
A note on wordingThis is not a "total cost of ownership": it leaves out parking, tolls, tickets and the time you lose. These are the six components AAA measures, with their figures and date. What is not here is not measured.
What makes up the average ($11,577 / year)
| Component | 2025 average | What you can control |
|---|---|---|
| Depreciation | $4,334 / yr | Almost all of it: a 3-year-old used car has already taken the biggest drop. It is the strongest financial argument for buying used. |
| Insurance | $1,694 / yr | Little. Compare every year and raise the deductible if you have savings. What changes by state, below. |
| Finance | $1,131 / yr | All of it: short term, big down payment, pre-approved rate. |
| Fuel | 13¢ / mile | Depends on the car and how you drive. A hybrid cuts it nearly in half. |
| Maintenance, repair and tires | 11.04¢ / mile | Depends on the brand and on doing it on time. See the maintenance schedule. |
| License, registration and taxes | $813 / yr | Almost nothing per year. The hit is the tax at purchase; see your state's section below. |
By vehicle type (cents per mile, AAA 2025)
| Type | ¢ / mile | At 15,000 mi / yr* | Quick read |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small sedan | 55.87 | ≈ $8,380 | The cheapest to own. Low depreciation, low fuel. |
| Hybrid | 63.94 | ≈ $9,590 | Pays back its premium through fuel if you drive in the city. |
| Subcompact SUV | 66.11 | ≈ $9,920 | The middle ground most people buy. |
| Medium sedan | 66.37 | ≈ $9,960 | More room than the small one for about the same cost. |
| Compact SUV | 68.53 | ≈ $10,280 | The best-selling segment; its cost reflects pricier insurance and tires. |
| Electric | 71.21 | ≈ $10,680 | Cheap fuel, high depreciation and insurance. Better if you charge at home. |
| Mid-size pickup | 79.11 | ≈ $11,870 | Capability you pay for every mile. |
| Medium SUV | 83.89 | ≈ $12,580 | Three rows, high fuel, high depreciation. |
| Half-ton pickup | 98.54 | ≈ $14,780 | The most expensive to own. If you don't tow, you are paying for capability you don't use. |
*Simple multiplication of AAA's per-mile figure by 15,000 miles, rounded. AAA calculates on a new car, five years and 75,000 miles, national average. A used car has less depreciation and finance cost, but more maintenance.
What changes in New Hampshire
- Insurance. In New Hampshire the law does not require you to carry car insurance, but driving without it leaves you paying for a crash out of pocket and at risk of losing your license. Ask for an insurance price on the VIN before you buy.
- Tax at purchase. New Hampshire has no general sales tax: you pay no sales tax when you buy a car, from a dealer or from a private party. What you do pay every year at registration is the municipal permit fee, based on the maker's list price and the car's age (18 mills per dollar the first year, going down to 3), plus the state fee by weight.
- Climate. Hard cold drains the battery and lowers tire pressure, so check both before November and use washer fluid with de-icer. Road salt speeds up rust on brakes, lines and the frame: wash the underside of the car during winter and check for rust before buying a used car. New Hampshire repealed the periodic safety inspection sections (RSA 266:1 through 266:6 and 266:8) effective January 31, 2026, and since May 18, 2026 RSA 266:8-b puts the duty on the driver: driving a car in unsafe condition, or without working lamps, brakes, steering, tires, exterior panels or glass, is a $60 violation; police can put a defective equipment tag on it with at least 7 days to repair, and the director can suspend the registration and plates if the car is an immediate hazard. Confirm with the DMV what check is required when you register, and count on the pre-purchase inspection being yours to arrange.
- Comprehensive coverage. It is what pays for hail, flood, fire and theft. If the car is worth anything, it is not optional.
How to use this before you buy
- Take the price you can pay and subtract day-one tax and fees.
- Find the vehicle type in the table and multiply the cents by your real yearly miles (look at your current car: the odometer doesn't lie).
- Get an insurance quote on the specific VIN. It is the line that surprises most.
- If the yearly total is more than you can sustain, step down a segment. A small sedan costs half what a half-ton pickup costs every year, not just on purchase day.
Keep your vehicle information together
Sources
- AAA — Your Driving Costs 2025 (fact sheet, September 2025)
- AAA — New vehicle costs drop to $11,577 (press release)
- NH Department of Revenue Administration — Resale & Exempt Certificates
- NH DMV — New Hampshire Department of Safety, Division of Motor Vehicles
This guide informs; it is not legal or financial advice, nor an offer, quote or appraisal. Every figure carries its source and date; check it is still current before you decide.
Keep reading
You know what to look for. Now look at that specific car.
Free vehicle identity, no account needed. Reports from $4.99.