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I previously looked into the average cost per mile of car ownership, after hearing the IRS values it at 58.5 cents/mile, and came up with this breakdown ($7,605/yr):

"The average vehicle costs $40k, is owned for 11 years, gets driven 13k miles per year, burns 25 mpg, gas costs $3/gal, insurance is $1500 per year, and the vehicle needs $900 per year in maintenance and repairs."

The Bankrate estimate seems high, but not by much. My own cost is 38.4 c/mile.

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I've never really thought cost per mile is very useful, because it favours commuting by car and long distance travel. The more you drive, the lower the cost. I probably spend more per mile on transit, but I can't really compare it because the expenditures are quite heterogeneous. I could factor in the cost of shoes, but car drivers also have shoes, they just don't use them for walking as much. They might also own a bike, but that's rarely factored into transportation methods for car owners. Likewise I only use the train once a week or so; per mile it might be higher, but yearly it's nothing.

This is why I drive a 2002 Saturn despite making $140,000/year.

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