The top 3 costs of running a car in Sydney are car loans, fuel and motor insurance. With a car loan, you could spend $215 or 60% more every week than someone without a loan. Find out the other costs of running a car in Sydney in 2026.
What are the top 3 costs of running a car in Sydney?
These are the top 3 costs of running a car in Sydney, according to Australian Automobile Association (AAA):
- Car loans of $215 per week pushes up the total cost by 60%.
- Fuel costs $99 per week – this is higher if you do not sometimes use public transport. Use our Fuel Price Calculator to find the cheapest fuel prices near you.
- Comprehensive insurance costs $66 per week.
How much does it cost to run a car in Sydney?
The main costs of running a car include car loan payments, fuel, motor insurance, tolls, servicing and tyres, registration/licensing and green slip, and roadside assistance.
- Registration, licensing and green slip are mandatory.
- Car loans, comprehensive insurance and roadside assistance are your choice.
Costs of running a car in Sydney
| Costs | Per week | Per year |
| Total with car loan | $573 | $29,808 |
| Car loan payments | $215 | $11,178 |
| Total without car loan | $358 | $18,630 |
| Fuel | $99 | $5,134 |
| Motor insurance | $66 | $3,420 |
| Tolls | $60 | $3,120 |
| Servicing and tyres | $36 | $1,881 |
| Registration, licensing and CTP | $45 | $2,337 |
| Roadside assistance | $2 | $137 |
- This table does not include $50 pw for public transport. If a household doesn’t use public transport, the total cost of running a car increases.
Essential to know
Australian Automobile Association (AAA) affordability statistics for January to March 2026 are based on a notional family. They have a car loan, pay tolls 3 days, and take public transport on other days to save money.
How much does it cost to register a car in Sydney?
Registration in NSW currently costs (at August 2026):
- $84 for a car, station wagon or small bus, plus
- vehicle tax paid on vehicle weight, starting from $278.
I would like to register my vehicle now.
Is it affordable to run a car in Sydney?
Affordability of running a car in Sydney sits on the national average at 15.5% of income. Yet households in Sydney and Melbourne still pay the most:
| City | Cost | % of Income |
| 1. Sydney | $573 pw ($29,808 pa) | 3% |
| 2. Melbourne | $549 pw ($28,551 pa) | 9% |
| 3. Hobart | $413 pw ($21,485 pa) | 4% |
- Hobart owners pay the least for transport, but it’s also the least affordable place in Australia to run a car.
How much is my green slip?
At 1 August 2026, the rolling 12-month average cost of a green slip in NSW was $662. The price of your green slip depends on you, where you live, your vehicle and your driving history.
We used the green slip calculator to calculate the cost of a green slip in August 2026 for a safe driver and a driver with 2 demerit points. He is 45, lives in Sydney and owns a 2015 Ford Ranger and a 2015 Honda Accord.
Greenslip prices with demerit points
|
|
Ford Ranger green slip price |
Honda Accord green slip price |
|
No demerit points |
$886-$1,136
|
$579-$804
|
|
2 Demerit points |
$1,218-$1,252 |
$727-$826 |
- Our driver with no demerit points spends from $579 on a green slip for a Honda Accord and from $1,218 for a Ford Ranger.
- With 2 demerit points, he could spend 37% more on the Ranger and 26% more on the Accord for a green slip.
Essential to know
It is usually more expensive to register and insure a ute or light goods vehicle than a motor car.
Calculate your green slip now, whether you live in Sydney or somewhere else in NSW.
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