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Five costs make up the total: the drive-away price, charging, servicing, insurance and registration, less what you can sell the car for.
An EV usually costs more to buy but less to run. Charging at home is far cheaper per kilometre than petrol, and servicing is simpler. This calculator compares your chosen EV with a petrol car over 5 years and shows the annual saving, the payback time and the 5-year total.
Charging is the cost that varies most. Work out your own with the EV charging cost calculator, compare EV electricity plans, or browse the EV database to pick a car to compare.
Stamp duty on a $50,000 car, and annual registration and CTP. Rules and fees differ by state.
| State | Stamp duty, EV | Stamp duty, petrol | Rego and CTP, EV | Rego and CTP, petrol |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NSW | $1,650 | $1,650 | $1,029 | $1,029 |
| VIC | $2,142 | $2,142 | $930 | $930 |
| QLD | $0 | $1,020 | $716 | $842 |
| WA | $3,315 | $3,315 | $893 | $893 |
| SA | $1,740 | $1,740 | $674 | $674 |
| TAS | $0 | $1,530 | $626 | $626 |
| ACT | $0 | $1,140 | $906 | $1,132 |
| NT | $0 | $1,530 | $0 | $841 |
Estimates only, including $1,000 delivery in the duty base. Check your state revenue office and transport authority for the exact figure.
Assumptions last reviewed 27 October 2026.
It depends on the car, where you live and how far you drive. For a $45,000 EV driven 14,600 km a year, expect roughly $657 for servicing and tyres and $2,025 for insurance, plus charging and registration. The calculator adds the drive-away price, 5 years of running costs and resale value into one total.
Usually, yes. Charging at home overnight on an EV plan at 8c per kWh costs about $2 per 100 km, a standard 35c home rate about $7, and public fast charging at 70c about $13. A petrol car using 7.5 L per 100 km at $2 per litre costs about $15. EVs are cheaper to run when most of your charging is at home.
We estimate service, maintenance and tyres at 1% of the car's price per 10,000 km for a battery EV, against 1.4% for petrol. On a $45,000 car that is about $657 a year for the EV and $920 for petrol at 14,600 km. You can change both rates in the calculator.
We estimate EV insurance at 4.5% of the car's price a year, against 3.8% for petrol, between $900 and $6,500. That is about $2,025 for the EV and $1,710 for petrol on a $45,000 car. The rates are calibrated to CHOICE insurance quotes (March 2026).
Charging costs depend on your electricity rate and where you charge. Home overnight rates start around 4.5c per kWh and standard rates sit near 35c, while public fast charging is about 70c. Use the EV charging cost calculator to work out the cost of a full charge for your car.
Total cost of ownership is everything a car costs you over the years you own it: the drive-away price, charging or fuel, servicing, insurance, registration, minus what you can sell it for. This calculator compares your chosen EV with a petrol car over 5 years, using the Zecar EV database for range, consumption and price.