FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Costs to Own, Operate Vehicle Remain Constant, Says AAA

Phoenix, Ariz., April 8, 2009. If you have ever wondered how much it really costs each time you get behind the wheel of your motor vehicle, AAA has the answer. The auto club recently released its 2009 edition of Your Driving Costs, which compares the costs of different vehicle makes and models in an effort to help consumers make informed purchases and budget for annual automotive expenses.

“When many motorists think about the cost of owning a vehicle, they think about monthly payments and fuel costs. However, the total financial impact extends far beyond those factors, and is important to consider, especially in an economic climate in which consumers are cutting back everywhere they can,” said Don Nunnari, vice president of membership products and services for AAA Arizona. “Your Driving Costs incorporates the cost of fuel, maintenance, tires, insurance, license, registration, taxes, depreciation and financing as a way to give motorists a realistic idea of the true cost of vehicle ownership.”

According to the report, the average cost of owning and operating a new car in the U.S. has remained relatively unchanged compared to last year, with an average of 54 cents per mile or $8,095 per year, a decline of 0.1 cents per mile and $26 from last year, respectively.

The most noticeable change in the report is the price of gasoline, which held a statewide average of $3.198 in 2008. Pump prices have since fallen to an average of $1.915 (to date) in 2009. However, the money motorists are saving at the pump has been countered by revised Environmental Protection Agency fuel economy estimates and increases in insurance premiums, depreciation, increases in finance charges and other fees and taxes.

According to AAA’s 2009 Your Driving Costs, motorists can expect to pay the following for vehicle ownership, according to vehicle type and number of miles driven per year:

Though not part of the composite average, the auto club also calculated the costs to own and operate a sport utility vehicle and a minivan. As illustrated in the table below, the SUV class benefited the most from lower fuel prices, while the Minivan class experienced a jump due to relatively large increases in depreciation and finance charges.

A copy of Your Driving Costs 2009 can be accessed by visiting http://www.aaaaz.com/news/documents/DrivingCosts2009.pdf. The process used to estimate annual driving costs incorporates standardized criteria designed to model the average motorist’s use of a vehicle for personal transportation over five years and 75,000 miles of ownership. Fuel costs were based on $2.30 per gallon, as reported by AAA’s Fuel Gauge Report in late 2008. Actual driving costs will vary based on individual driving habits, location, operating conditions and other factors.

AAA has published Your Driving Costs since 1950, when driving a car 10,000 miles annually cost only nine cents per mile and a gallon of gasoline cost just 27 cents.

AAA Arizona, the Arizona affiliate of AAA, provides automotive, insurance and auto travel services to nearly 800,000 Arizona members.  Annually, AAA’s Emergency Road Service responds to more than 450,000 calls for help on the streets and highways of the state as well as providing insurance, travel, and financial services to AAA members and motorists.  Since its founding in 1927, AAA Arizona has been a leading advocate for the safety and security of all travelers.  AAA can be visited on the Internet at www.AAA.com.

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