UAE Total Car Ownership Cost Calculator
The real monthly cost of owning a car in the UAE — fuel, insurance, registration, Salik, parking, maintenance, and depreciation all in one figure.
The car
How you drive it
Daily costs
Insurance & ownership
How to use
- 1
Enter the car's price. Use the drive-away price, not the down payment.
- 2
If you're financing the car, enter your monthly EMI. Buying cash? Leave at 0.
- 3
Tell the calculator how many kilometres you drive per year. UAE average is 18-22K. Look at your trip computer or fuel receipts to estimate.
- 4
Enter your car's fuel efficiency (km per litre). A typical sedan does 12-15. A V8 SUV: 7-9. A hybrid: 18-22.
- 5
Enter your Salik commute days per month. If you only drive within one community and never cross a toll gate, set 0.
- 6
Enter your monthly parking. Work + residential. Free at both? Set 0.
- 7
Pick insurance type (comprehensive vs third-party only).
- 8
Set how many years you'll own the car. This matters because depreciation hits hardest in years 1-3.
- 9
The result shows your true monthly cost — usually 1.5x to 2x what people expect, because they only think about the loan EMI.
Frequently asked questions
Because cars are expensive to own, not just to buy. A common mistake: thinking the AED 1,800 monthly loan IS the cost of the car. Reality: fuel adds AED 500-800, insurance AED 250-400, Salik AED 160, parking AED 200-400, maintenance AED 200, depreciation AED 1,500. True monthly often comes to AED 4,500-5,500 for an AED 120K car driven 20K km/year.
Depreciation is the loss of your car's value over time. A new AED 120,000 car typically loses 15% of value in year 1 (AED 18,000), then 10-15% each year after. Over 5 years you've 'lost' about AED 65,000 in resale value, even if everything else costs nothing. This is the single biggest hidden cost of car ownership.
Roughly 3-5% of the car's value per year for a clean-record driver. So an AED 120,000 car costs AED 3,600-6,000/year to insure comprehensively. Third-party-only insurance is cheaper at 1-2% of value but covers only damage you cause to others — your own car repair costs come out of pocket.
Buy a 3-4 year old fuel-efficient sedan with cash. You skip the heaviest depreciation years AND avoid the loan interest. A 2022 Toyota Corolla bought used for AED 50K vs new at AED 95K saves you about AED 60-70K over a 5-year ownership period.
Yes. Annual Mulkiya renewal (AED 400) and the RTA Tasjeel inspection (AED 150) are bundled into the 'registration' figure. Most years you'll pay both unless your car is brand new (first inspection is free in some emirates).
Not included — they're personal driving behaviour, not a fixed cost of ownership. UAE drivers average AED 500-1,500 in fines per year. Add it manually if you want a more realistic budget.
Approximate. The calculator uses AED 8/day (2 gates × blended peak/off-peak average). Your actual Salik depends on your route and timing. Check your Salik account history for the real average — many Dubai commuters spend AED 200-400/month on tolls.
Because car costs are mostly invisible. Most people focus on the loan EMI, forget the fuel, don't think about insurance until they renew, and never properly value depreciation. Add it all up and the true monthly cost of an AED 120,000 financed car driven 20K km/year is roughly the same as renting an AED 4,500/month studio apartment.
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Source: UAE Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), ENOC and ADNOC fuel pricing, typical UAE insurance benchmarks · Last verified 2026-06. Verify on RTA UAE. This tool provides estimates only and is not legal, tax or financial advice. Always verify your specific situation with the relevant UAE authority or a licensed advisor before taking action.