Two cars can make a household’s schedule dramatically easier, but they also create two sets of fuel bills, insurance premiums, tires, maintenance, registration fees, and depreciation. The solution does not have to involve selling a car and turning every errand into a transportation negotiation.
A better approach involves finding out where the two vehicles actually cost money and then trimming the expenses that offer the most room to move. AAA’s latest ownership study puts the average annual cost of owning and operating a new vehicle at $12,863, although actual costs vary widely by vehicle, location, mileage, and driving habits.
