Most people immediately think of the direct costs of driving: purchasing and maintaining a car, paying for gas and oil, insurance, registration and parking. Further from the mind are other costs associated with automobiles such as road construction and maintenance that are paid for less directly, via taxes and fees. Since those costs aren't paid for directly by car owners, they usually aren't calculated as costs of driving. In addition, there are the other hidden environmental and social costs that drivers and non-drivers alike pay to support our primary mode of transportation - the automobile.





Through this short calculation sheet you can calculate your costs based on your specific vehicle miles traveled in order to identify what you really pay to drive each year. Once all costs are considered, it quickly becomes clear that it might be cheaper to consider transportation alternatives such as riding a bike, using the bus, vanpooling, carpooling, walking or telecommuting. Call 831/429-POOL for more information or assistance.


CALCULATE YOUR COMMUTE COSTS:
Calculate your commute costs by entering information about your commute and driving habits. In the cost column, use typical driver costs or change amounts to reflect your specific expenses. Press the calculate button. The calculator gives you your annual vehicle mileage and calculates your true cost of driving.
Your daily ROUND TRIP COMMUTE MILES to and from work
The number of DAYS A WEEK YOU USUALLY WORK
Add in your average daily ROUND TRIP non-commuter miles
Your Annual Vehicle Mileage is:
   
1. Determine your Annual Vehicle Mileage    (number of miles you drive in one year)
     
2. Your Direct Driver's Expenses COSTS
  Fixed: insurance and registration ¢ per mile
  Finance Charge ¢ per mile
  Depreciation ¢ per mile
  Fuel and Oil ¢ per mile
  Maintenance and Tires ¢ per mile
  Residential Parking ¢ per mile
  Parking and Tolls: user paid (if applicable) ¢ per mile
  Travel Time (with average delays) ¢ per mile
  Accidents (minus net insurance disbursements) ¢ per mile
     
3. Total Direct Drivers Expense per mile
     
4. Your Societal Costs COSTS
  Accidents (minus net insurance disbursements and direct costs as cited)  ¢ per mile
  State and Local Construction, Improvements and Repair (2000) ¢ per mile
  State and Local Highway Maintenance and Operations (2000) ¢ per mile
  Parking (commercial and employer-paid, including goverment tax) ¢ per mile
  Waste Disposal ¢ per mile
  Air Pollution Damage (health costs, crops, trees, materials, etc.) ¢ per mile
  External Resource Consumption Costs ¢ per mile
  Road Noise (property value decrease and abatement) ¢ per mile
  CO2 Reduction (motor vehicles only) ¢ per mile
  Water Pollution and Hydrologic Impacts ¢ per mile
  Transportation Diversity and Equity ¢ per mile
  Barrier Effects on Pedestrians and Bicycles ¢ per mile
  Land Use Impact Costs ¢ per mile
  Roadway Land Value ¢ per mile
  Congestion Cost ¢ per mile
     
5.   Total Societal Costs per mile associated with driving
     
6. The Total Dollar Cost per mile (lines 3 and 5)
     
7. The Actual Cost of Your Driving per year (line 1 multiplied by line 6)
 
  



Consider the many alternatives to driving alone and try carpooling, vanpooling, walking, bicycling, taking the bus or telecommuting!

Explore your options with the help of Commute Solutions. Call us at (831)429-POOL or email at info@commutesolutions.org