Cost of Owning a Car in Washington
How Washington’s gas prices, electricity rates, sales tax and insurance costs affect what you’ll typically pay to own a vehicle.
Washington at a glance
Gas price
$3.95per gallon, illustrative averageElectricity
$0.11per kWh, illustrative averageSales tax
6.50%plus ~$75 average registrationInsurance in Washington runs close to the national average in this model, reflected as a 1.00× multiplier on our base class rates.
What drives the cost in Washington
Costs are pushed up mainly by gas prices (about $995 more over 5 years) and sales tax (about $703 more over 5 years). (Figures are for a typical SUV compared with the average state.)
5-year cost by vehicle class in Washington
Uses real market-average vehicle prices per class (from our 152-vehicle MarketCheck pull) combined with Washington-specific tax, fee, fuel and insurance data.
Sedan
$35,0105-year estimate, $583/moSUV / crossover
$47,4505-year estimate, $791/moTruck
$49,9055-year estimate, $832/moElectric
$48,1245-year estimate, $802/moLuxury
$71,1305-year estimate, $1,186/moPopular vehicles: 5-year cost in Washington
2026 Toyota RAV4
$36,4415-year cost in WashingtonFull breakdown →2026 Honda CR-V
$36,1555-year cost in WashingtonFull breakdown →2026 Toyota Camry
$31,8885-year cost in WashingtonFull breakdown →2026 Honda Civic
$27,9685-year cost in WashingtonFull breakdown →2026 Ford F-150
$62,2435-year cost in WashingtonFull breakdown →2026 Tesla Model Y
$38,2075-year cost in WashingtonFull breakdown →2026 Chevrolet Equinox
$41,3345-year cost in WashingtonFull breakdown →2026 Toyota Corolla
$27,8935-year cost in WashingtonFull breakdown →EV vs. gas in Washington
At Washington’s $0.11/kWh electricity and $3.95/gal gas, charging a typical EV at home costs about $436 a year, versus about $1,529 a year to fuel a typical gas sedan — a savings of $1,093 per year. Run your own numbers with the EV vs. gas calculator.