this post was submitted on 08 May 2026
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United States | News & Politics
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Cars cost a very high amount to keep running when you include all the costs, yes it sucks for many people in the US that there car will be worth shit when they are forced to sell it but by then they won't have a choice or not, they will be forced to get rid of their car because of how much it is costing them to own and maintain it.
Those costs are highly variable and can be very low. I have 30+ years owning and operating automobiles in the USA, so I can speak from a well of experience on the topic.
If your car is running OK, able to operate well enough to travel in, your only cost could be gas. Some of us have cars that are paid off and low-maintenance. Insurance is required by some states, but you don't technically need it to operate the vehicle. You can also get low-cost liability-only insurance to meet the bare minimum legal requirements. Routine maintenance can be cheap if all you do is change the oil and filter - this can cost $30 or less every 5000-10000 miles if you do it yourself.
But if you're a dumbass who bought a monster truck with long financing and high payments, you're gonna have a bad time.
Incorrect, the gas is the cheapest thing you pay for over time with a car in many ways.
https://www.aaa.com/autorepair/articles/breaking-down-the-cost-of-car-ownership
https://data.bts.gov/stories/s/Transportation-Economic-Trends-Transportation-Spen/bzt6-t8cd/
https://bestinterest.blog/cost-of-car-ownership/
Well, that's completely wrong for me. Gas and car insurance are by far the biggest expenses I've had owning my car. You may be getting suckered into buying shitty/American cars that require more maintenance than others.
It's also possible you're getting scammed hard by mechanics. Here's a hint: if you're calling mechanics and you hear a woman answer the phone, hang up. You'll be paying hundreds of dollars extra for your repair so she can sit on her ass all day and answer the phone.
Your anecdote does not somehow magically trump the assortment of links to actual calculations from experts of these things I provided.
Why not? I'm not some special car owner. I just don't spend money like a dipshit. The fact is that owning a car doesn't have to be as expensive as what you're referencing.
Because you are providing no evidence other than "my car is cheap!" in a flippant totally anecdotal fashion.
You must not know how averages work. You don't have to be the person buying shitty cars and getting ripped off by mechanics.
The funny thing is, I'm talking from experience while you clearly have none.