The average cost to own and operate a medium-sized car has risen 4.8 percent since last year to 56.6 cents a mile, or $8,487 a year, according to AAA’s annual cost study.
The amount was based on 15,000 miles of driving each year.
The study found a small car costs 43.3 cents a mile, or $6,496 a year, while a four-wheel drive SUV is the most expensive, at nearly 74 cents per mile, or $11,000 a year.
Increases in the cost of fuel, tires and insurance were the primary factors causing a rise in all categories of vehicles, said AAA.
At the time of the study, the national average cost of regular unleaded gas was $2.60 per gallon, nearly 13 percent higher than the cost of fuel in last-year’s study. The average cost of insurance coverage also rose 5.7 percent over last year, while tire costs increased about 9 percent.
McClatchy-Tribune
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