Average cost of driving a new car drops 0.8%

Journal Record, The (Oklahoma City), Apr 4, 2002 by staff

The average cost of driving a new car has dropped 0.8 cent per mile from one year ago to an estimated 50.2 cents per mile, AAA's annual Your Driving Costs study shows. It was the first decline reported by AAA since 1993 when driving costs declined .1 cent per mile to 38.7 cents.

According to AAA Oklahoma, most of this year's decline in annual automobile costs was due to lower 2001 fuel prices. "Pump prices were at their lowest level in three years at the beginning of 2002, when this study was conducted," said Chuck Mai, AAA Oklahoma spokesman. "The higher gasoline costs we're seeing this spring are not reflected in these expense figures."

AAA's annual Your Driving Costs study reports motorists driving 15,000 miles this year will spend an average of $7,533 on auto-related expenses, down $121 from a year earlier.

Operating costs - gas and oil, maintenance and tires - decreased 1.8 cents from 13.6 cents to 11.8 cents per mile as a result of lower prices at the gas pump. Ownership costs increased 41 cents per day, however, from $15.38 per day to $15.79.

Three domestically built 2002 cars were used as a base for AAA's composite national average - a subcompact Chevrolet Cavalier LS, a midsize Ford Taurus SEL Deluxe and a full-size Mercury Grand Marquis LS.

The study also included driving costs for sport- utility vehicles and minivans. AAA says the cost to drive a 2002 Chevrolet Blazer is 53.8 cents per mile, down 2 cents per mile from a year earlier. The driving costs for a Dodge Caravan SE totaled 49.1 cents per mile, down 2.1 cents per mile.