In AAA’s 2011 edition of Your Driving Costs, which has been published annually since 1950, they reported that the average annual cost to own and operate a sedan in America (based on 15,000 miles of driving) is approximately 58.5 cents per mile or $8,775, up 1.9 cents from 2010. In the full report, you can see that the fuel costs they used were based on $2.88 per gallon, which was the average price towards the end of 2010. Today’s average gas price is closer to $3.65, making the fuel cost portion of the calculation nearly 21% higher. Another notable increase is the price of tires, which increased 15.7% from last year, mostly due to an increase in raw material and energy costs. To calculate out your individual driving costs you can use their provided worksheet on page 5.
On page 9, AAA states that the average commute to work by car is about $58 per 100 miles (again based on a gas price of $2.88 per gallon) and states that using alternative transportation options could save you money – a pretty big revelation coming from a federation of motor clubs! Factor in the higher fuel cost in DC, additional wear and tear due to stop-and-go rush hour traffic and some hefty daily parking fees, and we couldn’t agree with them more. Using public transit or carpooling will almost always save you money on your commute. On a side note – so does living near your work in the District!
For some great ideas on how to go car-lite or even car free, browse the rest of our website to see all of the options available in the District.
By Tarryn Lee at goDCgo
