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The annual expense of owning and operating a new vehicle in the United States in 2022 increased 11% over the previous year. Specifically in Florida, it is 5% higher than in 2021, according to the American Automobile Association (AAA).
According to a statement released Thursday by AAA, their “Your 2022 Driving Costs” report details that the cost is $10,728 per year or $894 per month nationally and $11,279 in Florida — which is 5% higher than the average for the country as a whole.
“High gas prices are not only changing Americans’ driving habits, but also the way they think about future car purchases,” said AAA spokesman Mark Jenkins.
“Consumers are paying more attention to operating costs such as fuel, maintenance, and insurance,” he emphasized which factors U.S. drivers value most when purchasing a new vehicle.
AAA indicates that gas prices experienced a notable increase in the first half of 2022, driving up the cost of owning a car.
For this year’s study, fuel costs were projected based on a weighted average of the first five months of 2022.
Regarding electric vehicles, AAA notes that the owner of such a car will spend about 4 cents per mile (1.6 kilometers) to recharge at home, while the owner of a fuel-powered one will spend an average of 18.4 cents per mile at a gas station.
Assuming both drive 15,000 miles (24,000 kilometers) per year, it would cost approximately $2,700 per year for the gas car and $600 per year to charge the electric car, a difference of $2,100 on 12 months.
Beyond fuel savings, electric vehicles have the lowest maintenance, repair, and tire costs, according to the U.S. industry organization.
AAA launched an online cost calculator this year, a tool that allows consumers to determine the overall costs of driving a vehicle.
