Cost of Owning a Car in California
How California’s gas prices, electricity rates, sales tax and insurance costs affect what you’ll typically pay to own a vehicle.
California at a glance
Gas price
$4.65per gallon, illustrative averageElectricity
$0.24per kWh, illustrative averageSales tax
7.25%plus ~$240 average registrationInsurance in California runs above the national average in this model, reflected as a 1.20× multiplier on our base class rates.
What drives the cost in California
Costs are pushed up mainly by gas prices (about $2,611 more over 5 years) and insurance rates (about $1,717 more over 5 years). (Figures are for a typical SUV compared with the average state.)
5-year cost by vehicle class in California
Uses real market-average vehicle prices per class (from our 152-vehicle MarketCheck pull) combined with California-specific tax, fee, fuel and insurance data.
Sedan
$38,3685-year estimate, $639/moSUV / crossover
$51,2905-year estimate, $855/moTruck
$54,0515-year estimate, $901/moElectric
$53,2085-year estimate, $887/moLuxury
$75,9695-year estimate, $1,266/moPopular vehicles: 5-year cost in California
2026 Toyota RAV4
$39,9285-year cost in CaliforniaFull breakdown →2026 Honda CR-V
$39,7115-year cost in CaliforniaFull breakdown →2026 Toyota Camry
$34,7665-year cost in CaliforniaFull breakdown →2026 Honda Civic
$31,0965-year cost in CaliforniaFull breakdown →2026 Ford F-150
$66,7565-year cost in CaliforniaFull breakdown →2026 Tesla Model Y
$42,9025-year cost in CaliforniaFull breakdown →2026 Chevrolet Equinox
$45,0185-year cost in CaliforniaFull breakdown →2026 Toyota Corolla
$30,9745-year cost in CaliforniaFull breakdown →EV vs. gas in California
At California’s $0.24/kWh electricity and $4.65/gal gas, charging a typical EV at home costs about $950 a year, versus about $1,800 a year to fuel a typical gas sedan — a savings of $850 per year. Run your own numbers with the EV vs. gas calculator.