Individual
- Price incl. tax (includes 20% VAT in France)
- Eco-bonus for EVs (€4,000 in 2026)
- €500 charging point tax credit
- No VAT recovery
- Fast depreciation in the first 3 years
Complete TCO guide · 2026
Total cost of a car in 2026: TCO for all powertrains
How much does a car really cost over 5 years in 2026? The list price is only half the story — you must add fuel or electricity, maintenance, insurance, depreciation, tolls. This page aggregates all our tools to calculate the total cost of ownership (TCO) by powertrain and country.
Example — private car, France, 15,000 km/year for 5 years
The cheapest powertrain is Essence with a TCO of 38 398 €, i.e. 14 028 € less than the PHEV hybride. Not counting incentives and tolls.
5-year TCO, powertrain by powertrain
Assumptions: new compact car, 15,000 km/year, mixed profile, no manufacturer discount. Excluding incentives, insurance, tolls. For a personalised calculation that includes everything, use our simulator.
| Powertrain | New price incl. tax | 5-year energy | 5-year maintenance | Total TCO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essence✓ cheapest | 24 000 € | 9 398 € | 5 000 € | 38 398 € |
| Électrique | 35 000 € | 2 520 € | 2 400 € | 39 920 € |
| Diesel | 28 000 € | 7 095 € | 5 500 € | 40 595 € |
| PHEV hybride | 38 000 € | 9 675 € | 4 750 € | 52 425 € |
Energy cost by country
The country radically changes the balance between powertrains. Switzerland has the most expensive electricity in Western Europe, Canada has the cheapest. Diesel remains stable around €1.72-1.85/L.
| Country | Diesel (€/L) | Petrol (€/L) | Electricity (€/kWh) | Dedicated page |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇫🇷 France | 1.72 | 1.79 | 0.21 | TCO France → |
| 🇧🇪 Belgium | 1.78 | 1.83 | 0.30 | TCO Belgium → |
| 🇨🇭 Switzerland | 1.85 | 1.92 | 0.27 | TCO Switzerland → |
| 🇨🇦 Canada | 1.45 | 1.40 | 0.13 | TCO Canada → |
Calculate my exact cost
TCO Simulator
Personalised calculation: segment, powertrain, driving profile, duration. Includes incentives and accelerated depreciation.
Launch the simulator →6-powertrain comparator
Compare at a glance diesel, petrol, electric, hybrid, hydrogen, NGV.
Compare →Trip cost
For a specific trip (holiday, professional): fuel + tolls by powertrain.
Compare a trip →Individual vs business: not the same calculation
Business / fleet
- Price excl. tax (100% recoverable VAT on EVs and LCVs)
- 40% accelerated depreciation France (until end 2026)
- No company car tax for EVs
- Fleet aid up to €12,000 per heavy truck
- Straight-line depreciation 5-7 years
The 7 TCO components
- Purchase price — new incl./excl. tax, after discount and incentives (40-55% of TCO).
- Energy — fuel or electricity, depends on country and profile (15-30% of TCO).
- Maintenance — servicing, tyres, brakes. An EV costs about half (5-12%).
- Insurance — often 5-8% of TCO, higher for new EVs (expensive repair).
- Depreciation — the hidden enemy: 40-50% of value lost in 4 years. EVs depreciate faster market-side, but the best second-hand deals.
- Tolls and parking — variable: ~€0.10/km motorway in France. Some cities exempt EVs.
- Taxation — company car tax, eco-malus, weight tax, LEZ fees. Low for individuals, heavy in B2B.
Car cost: frequently asked questions
See also in our guides
Four other complete dossiers to go further on the car in 2026.
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EV Charging
Prices by country, cards, stations, home installation, incentives.
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Holidays by car
15 major European trips, vignettes, tolls, departure checklist.
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Breakdown
Emergency numbers by country, warning-light scan, European claim form.
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Vehicle documents
Registration, international permit, insurance, technical inspection.