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RIDESHARE - commuter calculator

The American Automobile Association (AAA) calculates the 2008 average cost of driving a new mid-size passenger car 15,000 miles a year at 55.2 cents per mile or $8,2808 per year. This includes:

• Operating costs: gas, 0.1234 cents per mile or $1,852 per year, maintenance and tires at 5.5 cents per mile or $825 per year.
• Ownership costs: Full coverage insurance, license, registration, taxes, depreciation, and financing (10 percent down; six percent per 5-year loan) at $ 0.375 cents per mile or $5,636 per year.

There are ways to offset these costs:

• Carpool to save costs of tires, oil changes, and other service maintenance.
• Drive a vehicle that retains a high resale value.
• Reduce your insurance costs. Insurance rates are calculated on your driving record, type of car, annual mileage, and daily work mileage.
  • Carpool to reduce annual and average daily work mileage.
  • Drive safely, adhere to speed limits, drive defensively to avoid accidents.
  • Call your agent for a quotation on competitive and comparative rates on cars before you buy.
• Save money for a down payment to reduce finance charges, length of loans, and lease rates.
• Purchase cars with longer warranties and less frequent service requirements.

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Environmental costs

Ever wonder what it costs the environment to drive your car? The Department of Energy (DOE), Alternative Fuels Data Center has calculated that for each gallon of gasoline burned, 20 pounds of carbon dioxide are emitted into our air.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) personal emissions calculator measures your household emissions. Did you know that the average carbon dioxide emitted is 12,100 pounds per vehicle in a year? or that including vehicles, waste, heat and electricity 41,500 pounds per year of CO2 is average for every household?

Track your modes and environmental savings

After you are registered in the Rideshare/bike buddy program, you can track your commuting modes each day and run a report that computes your cost savings, pollution and greenhouse gas reductions. Log in with your e-mail address and password and click on 'Track Your Commute Monthly'.

Calculate your commuting costs and environmental impact

(Tip: Use the tab key to go from field to field.)

Note: The trip calculator may not work in all browsers.

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Questions about the content of this page:
Karen Schmiechen, karen.schmiechen@dot.state.wi.us
Last modified: July 23, 2008