Overview

• The study pegs average new-vehicle ownership at $11,577 for 2025, a $719 decrease to $964.78 per month.
• Costs fell as depreciation eased to $4,334 per year from $4,680, finance charges slid to $1,131, and fuel dropped 12.8% to $0.13 per mile with regular gas averaging $3.151 a gallon and electricity at 16.7 cents per kWh.
• Electric vehicles are now more expensive overall in AAA’s analysis because cheaper gasoline and slightly higher electricity prices offset EVs’ lower operating costs.
• AAA’s EV and hybrid comparisons cover select models in four segments and rely on standardized five-year, 75,000-mile assumptions, limiting direct comparison to the overall average.
• Consumer guidance emphasizes total-cost budgeting, pre-approval for financing, and separating negotiations, with AAA noting small sedans can cost 43.3% less per mile than pickups—about $6,402 less per year.