Vehicles & Travel Calculators
Practical tools for planning road trips, budgeting for travel, and managing shared expenses.
⛽ Fuel Cost Estimator
Estimate the fuel cost for a road trip based on distance, vehicle efficiency, and fuel price.
Estimate Fuel Cost →💰 Split Trip Cost Calc
Easily divide shared travel expenses like fuel, tolls, or accommodation among participants.
Split Costs →⚡ EV vs Petrol Calculator
Compare the yearly running cost and CO2 emissions of an electric car versus a petrol car.
Compare EV vs Petrol →🔌 EV Charging Cost Calc
Work out the cost to charge your electric car at home, plus range added and cost per 100 km.
Calculate Charging Cost →🚗 Road Trip Estimator
Estimate total driving time (including stops) and fuel cost for your journey.
Plan Road Trip →✈️ Travel Budget Planner
Outline and estimate the total cost for your next trip (flights, accommodation, food, etc.).
Plan Budget →Working Out the Real Cost of a Journey
The cost of driving is systematically underestimated, because fuel is the only part you pay for visibly. Depreciation, insurance, tyres, servicing and repairs are all real costs per mile, and together they usually exceed the fuel. When comparing driving against other options, or working out what to charge for a shared trip, fuel alone gives an answer that's far too low.
The tools here cover fuel costs, trip budgeting, journey time, electric versus petrol running costs, and home charging — the calculations that come up when planning a trip or deciding what to drive.
Things That Change the Answer
- Real economy differs from the official figure. Manufacturer consumption figures come from standardised tests. Actual driving — short trips, cold starts, hills, roof boxes, air conditioning — is usually worse.
- Speed costs fuel disproportionately. Aerodynamic drag rises with the square of speed, so sustained high-speed motorway driving is markedly less efficient than a steady moderate cruise.
- Electric running costs depend heavily on where you charge. Home charging on an off-peak tariff can cost a small fraction of public rapid charging. A single average figure hides an enormous range.
- Journey time estimates ignore reality. Add time for traffic, roadworks, fuel and food stops, and rest breaks. Distance divided by speed limit is a best case, not a plan.