Enter one EV and one comparable gas car. We adjust for fuel/charging cost, maintenance, insurance, EV registration fees, tax incentives, and resale value over your ownership period.
⚠ Estimates only, not financial advice — see the note below the results for details. US national averages — figures vary a lot by state.
Each line already includes every adjustment above it — this isn't a list to add up. Compare using the bottom line only.
Estimates only, not financial advice. The federal EV purchase tax credit (up to $7,500) ended for vehicles acquired after September 30, 2025, under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, so it is not included as a default — only an editable state/local incentive is, since eligibility and amounts vary enormously by state. Fuel/charging cost assumes the electricity and gas prices you enter, applied to each vehicle's efficiency rating. Resale value is applied to the original purchase price at the percentage you enter, reflecting each vehicle type's typical depreciation curve. Figures are national averages — actual electricity prices, gas prices, EV fees, and incentives vary widely by state.
Electric Car vs Gas Car takes one EV and one comparable gas car and runs each through four stages to estimate the true cost of ownership over your chosen period.
Starting sticker price, minus any one-time state or local incentive you're eligible for. The federal purchase credit no longer applies to either vehicle as of late 2025.
The EV's cost is based on its efficiency (kWh per 100 miles) and your electricity price; the gas car's cost is based on its MPG and the gas price you enter, both multiplied by your annual mileage and years of ownership.
EVs typically cost less to maintain (no oil changes, less brake wear) but more to insure, and many states now charge an annual EV-specific registration fee to make up for the gas tax revenue EV owners don't pay.
EVs have depreciated noticeably faster than gas cars on average in recent years — a real cost that fuel and maintenance savings don't always offset, especially for lower-mileage owners over shorter ownership periods.
No. Electric Car vs Gas Car gives a directional estimate to help you think through a decision, not a substitute for a financial advisor or your specific state's DMV and tax rules. Real outcomes depend heavily on the specific vehicles, your driving pattern, and where you live.
No. The federal Clean Vehicle Credit (up to $7,500 for new EVs, up to $4,000 for used EVs) ended for vehicles acquired after September 30, 2025, under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act — years ahead of its original 2032 schedule. It isn't included as a default in this tool for that reason. Some state and local incentives are still active — check your state's program and enter the amount in the "state/local incentive" field if you qualify.
With the federal credit gone, an EV's higher purchase price, steeper depreciation, and higher insurance can outweigh its fuel and maintenance savings — especially for drivers with average or below-average annual mileage over a shorter ownership period. Try raising the annual mileage, extending the ownership period, or adding a state incentive to see how the comparison shifts — EVs tend to pull ahead for higher-mileage, longer-term owners.
$0.19/kWh reflects the EIA's reported average US residential electricity price in early 2026. $4.00/gallon reflects the AAA national average gasoline price in mid-2026 — prices climbed from about $3 in the spring to near $4 by July 2026 amid Strait of Hormuz supply instability, so check current prices, since this can move quickly. 30 kWh/100 miles and 30 MPG are representative efficiency figures for a mainstream EV and gas car; both fields are editable to match specific models, whose efficiency ratings are listed on their EPA window stickers.
$0.04/mile (EV) vs $0.10/mile (gas) for maintenance reflects U.S. Department of Energy and Consumer Reports estimates — EVs have far fewer moving parts and no oil changes. The $230/year EV insurance premium (built into the $1,730 vs $1,500 defaults) reflects Consumer Reports data showing EVs typically cost more to insure. $150/year for EV registration reflects the typical $50-$225 range of state EV-specific surcharges — 41 states now charge one to offset lost gas-tax revenue.
iSeeCars' 2026 depreciation study found EVs lost an average of about 58.8% of their value after 5 years, compared to about 45.6% for comparable gas vehicles — reflected here as 41% and 54% retained value. Depreciation varies enormously by specific model; some EVs (like the Tesla Model 3) hold value much better than this average.
Your inputs are only used in your browser to calculate a result. If you use the "Copy shareable link" button, your inputs are encoded directly into that URL — nothing is stored on a server.
Rate/cost data: 2026