Gas prices push driving costs up
The overall cost of owning and operating a new vehicle is now 54.1 cents a mile, up 1.9 cents from last year, according the 2008 AAA "Your Driving Costs" study, released Friday.
If a car is driven 15,000 miles, then it costs $8,121 each year, compared with last year, when it cost $7,823.
The study considers factors such as the costs of gasoline, maintenance, tires, financing, depreciation and insurance.
While maintenance, full-coverage insurance and depreciation have dropped slightly in the past year, increases in tires, financing, license, registration, taxes and gas offset any savings.
Gas prices are the most significant increase in the past year. Gas prices in the 2008 study are based on the 2007 AAA Fuel Gauge Report price per gallon of $2.94 per gallon. But the average price in Utah last month was higher, at $3.13 per gallon.
The study considered differences in vehicle size. The cost of driving a small sedan is $6,320 a year, while driving a large sedan costs $9,769.
AAA estimates the cost of owning and driving a typical minivan is $8,644. A four-wheel-drive midsize sport utility vehicle is less efficient and would cost $10,448.
More people are choosing hybrid and alternative-fuel vehicles to cut down on gasoline prices, she said. AAA has a consumer Web site for people who want to learn more about hybrids and alternative fuels, at aaa.com/greenlight.
People can also save money on gas by checking AAA's Fuel Finder, which lists gas prices, at aaa.com/gasprices.
E-mail: lhancock@desnews.com
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