The linked article clearly states that number only applies to new car ownership. For reference, I have a 20 year old vehicle which I own outright, runs great, and drive maybe 6k miles a year. I usually bike and/or walk to work (or did, before COVID.)

Buy a used car and do your due diligence before purchasing.

Not sure what state they're using for license, tax, and registration. I pay less than $100 a year for that.

Maintenance is about right and can be lower, especially if you don't buy junk.

My insurance is lower than that, but that's a perk of my state.

I fill up maybe once every three weeks, so my fuel usage is way lower than that.

It'll probably go to the scrap yard once I'm done, and this thing was worth around maybe $3k when I bought it some years ago.

All in all, I'm sitting somewhere around $2000 a year for my car. Totally worth having.

Just be smart about it. Cars are very useful to have.

You listed a lot of ways to pay in time and energy instead of cash.

(Disclaimer: I own a car)

The only thing I see in the list that takes time is doing due diligence when buying a used car, which isn't really a reason not to buy a car. You should be doing a little research for any $10k+ purchase, I would think.

Also consider the health benefits and reduced medical costs if your lifestyle includes bicycling or walking.

until someone hits you with their car or you catch pneumonia from cycling in february

All-cause mortality is significantly lower for cyclists. Yes, motorists do kill a lot of people, but in the big picture they're still less dangerous than a sedentary lifestyle.

Motorists kill more motorists than they do cyclists. Did your car calculation include the odds of getting hit by some other moron in a car while you were driving to your destination?

As a former bike messenger, I can't relate to this kind of fear mongering.

Winter biking is enjoyable when you dress properly for the weather and use spiked tires.

https://valientemott.com/blog/chances-of-dying-in-a-car-cras...

Then you are doing it wrong. Where does one catch pneumonia from driving in the cold?

I agree with you but there's no way the number is that high. My used car cost $3,000 and for three years the total cost of service has been less than $600. Add in $300 per year of insurance and you're looking at a yearly cost of $1,500 tops

> What's my upfront cost before the $53 incremental cost?

$400ish (get lucky on a $250 "ran when parked" car, pay by month for insurance and live in a low tax state) on up.

>AAA says car ownership costs $8,558 per year

They say it costs that on average. That's very different from the floor or baseline cost which seems to be what you're implying.

>$250 "ran when parked" car

How to get an absolute hooptie sitting in your driveway waiting for replacement parts.

I said "lucky" for a reason.

If you can't source parts in this day and age it's not the car's fault. Anything made in the last 30yr you can readily get service parts for. What you can't get at the parts store are interior trim and non-wearing suspension items that are specific to a narrow range of vehicles (also true for new cars) but if you expect to keep the interior of a bottom dollar car in tip top shape you're out of your mind. The internet makes finding everything that isn't a normal wear item super quick and easy but you're gonna have to wait 24-96hr to get it.