1. Fuel Costs
With fuel prices reaching €1.76 per litre for petrol, and €1.68 for diesel, as of July 2025, plus further global uncertainty, the last 6 months have seen some of the most changeable fuel prices in recent times. (see below graph)
According to the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), the costs per 100km stand at €10.40 for petrol and €8.60 for diesel as of July 2025. Taking the example of a 1.6L petrol Hyundai Tucson driving an average of 15,000km a year, this would cost you €1,560 a year.
Our top tips to help mitigate the impacts are:
- Shopping around – There are many good websites such as petrol prices or fuel compare that allow you to check the prices in your area and who is offering the cheapest price at the pump.
- Loyalty points – Some brands offer fuel cards or apps that reward loyal shoppers with preferential rates.
2. Insurance
Then, of course, there is the cost of car insurance. According to the Central Bank of Ireland National Claims Information Database report 2024, the average car insurance policy in Ireland is €616.
The best thing to do is to shop around to see if there is a better price out there before you renew. New entrants like OUTsurance are bringing increased competition to the market and have been able to save people an average of €97* on their car insurance renewal. Some customers have even saved more, see for yourself on the OUTsurance website customer review page.
3. Car Depreciation
Depreciation is a key element in the overall cost of owning a car. It also represents the value you’ve gotten from using your vehicle over time.
A tool like The Money Calculator can help you calculate your annual depreciation. Looking at Depreciation over the course of four years and taking the example of a 2024 Hyundai Tucson priced at €40,000 with mileage of 15,000 km per year, the annual depreciation cost for 2025 comes to approximately €6,274.
Taking good care of your car, inside and out, can help soften the blow when it comes to depreciation. A clean, well-maintained vehicle tends to hold its value better.
See our depreciation chart below.
4. Motor tax
In Ireland, motor tax is based on how much CO₂ your car emits - so the cleaner your car, the less you’ll likely pay.
Take the Hyundai Tucson, for example. With CO₂ emissions ranging from 141 to 187 g/km (for the 1.6-litre engine), you’re looking at paying somewhere between €270 and €600 a year in car tax.
You can arrange your car's motor tax using the motor tax online website or get in touch with your local tax office if you prefer chatting to a real person.
5.National Car Test (NCT)
Now, for your vehicle's health check, keeping you safe and making sure everything’s running smoothly and meeting emissions standards.
If your car is under 10 years old, you’ll need to pop in for an NCT test every two years. The current fee is €60 for a full test and €40 for a re-test. You can book your appointment through the official NCT website.
6. Maintenance and Servicing
In 2025, the average cost of keeping your car in good shape is coming in at around €736 a year. This total is made up of average, typical yearly costs: €249 for servicing, assuming €100 for a tyre, €40 for brake pads (averaged), and more, see our chart below. That includes everything from regular services to surprise repairs, new tyres, and those little hiccups that seem to pop up when you least expect them. Of course, as with most things, these costs can vary based on your usage and the age of your car.
The good news? Taking care of your car helps you stay safer on the road, avoids those frustrating breakdowns, and saves you money in the long run. Most experts suggest getting a service once a year or every 20,000km.
7. Let’s Talk Tolls
Throughout Ireland, tolls range in cost, from €1.70 to €3.50 depending on when you travel and which toll bridge you use. If we take an average toll cost of around €2.60, and you drive through tolls about 80 times a year, that adds up to roughly €208 annually.
It’s one of those hidden driving costs that can sneak up on you but, knowing what to expect makes it easier to plan (and budget) for the road ahead.
8. Parking costs
Parking isn’t always cheap, and those hourly rates can add up over time. Across Ireland, parking costs range from €1.20 to €5 per hour, depending on the location. If we imagine a casual driver parking for around 156 hours in a year, that could work out to roughly €484 annually just on parking.
And don’t forget - if you live in a permit zone, you might also need to budget for a residential parking permit on top of that.
Our Final Thought
As you can see, the costs of owning a car can really add up - so it’s always a smart move to plan ahead, budget with the full picture in mind, and make savings where you can.
Unsure where to start making savings? See how much you could save on your car insurance with OUTsurance. Give us a call on 1800 600 400 or start a personalised quote right here on our website.
Sources are listed in the order they appear in the article
4. Motor tax
In Ireland, motor tax is based on how much CO₂ your car emits - so the cleaner your car, the less you’ll likely pay.
Take the Hyundai Tucson, for example. With CO₂ emissions ranging from 141 to 187 g/km (for the 1.6-litre engine), you’re looking at paying somewhere between €270 and €600 a year in car tax.
You can arrange your car's motor tax using the motor tax online website or get in touch with your local tax office if you prefer chatting to a real person.
5.National Car Test (NCT)
Now, for your vehicle's health check, keeping you safe and making sure everything’s running smoothly and meeting emissions standards.
If your car is under 10 years old, you’ll need to pop in for an NCT test every two years. The current fee is €60 for a full test and €40 for a re-test. You can book your appointment through the official NCT website.
6. Maintenance and Servicing
In 2025, the average cost of keeping your car in good shape is coming in at around €736 a year. This total is made up of average, typical yearly costs: €249 for servicing, assuming €100 for a tyre, €40 for brake pads (averaged), and more, see our chart below. That includes everything from regular services to surprise repairs, new tyres, and those little hiccups that seem to pop up when you least expect them. Of course, as with most things, these costs can vary based on your usage and the age of your car.
The good news? Taking care of your car helps you stay safer on the road, avoids those frustrating breakdowns, and saves you money in the long run. Most experts suggest getting a service once a year or every 20,000km.
7. Let’s Talk Tolls
Throughout Ireland, tolls range in cost, from €1.70 to €3.50 depending on when you travel and which toll bridge you use. If we take an average toll cost of around €2.60, and you drive through tolls about 80 times a year, that adds up to roughly €208 annually.
It’s one of those hidden driving costs that can sneak up on you but, knowing what to expect makes it easier to plan (and budget) for the road ahead.
Our Final Thought
As you can see, the costs of owning a car can really add up - so it’s always a smart move to plan ahead, budget with the full picture in mind, and make savings where you can.
Unsure where to start making savings? See how much you could save on your car insurance with OUTsurance. Give us a call on 1800 600 400 or get a personalised quote right here on our website.
Sources are listed in the order they appear in the article
*Fuel costs sourced from my LGP latest figures and SEAI research.
*Km travelled per year is based on 2023 private cars from CSO latest available figures at the time of writing this article.
*Average insurance costs were sourced from Central Bank of Ireland National Claims Information Database.
* Customer saving calculations sourced from OUTsurance's in-house data and based on the average saving of total customers up to 31.03.25 who shared their previous insurer's renewal premium.
*Car depreciation calculated using the money calculator tool.
*Motor tax prices were sourced from Gov.ie page 4. You can discover your car’s motor tax rate on motor tax online.
*Cost of NCT test sourced on Road Safety Authority website.
*Servicing costs is based on car service ireland pricing.
*Toll costs and charges were sourced from eToll Ireland
*Parking costs were sourced from City Council and Apcoa costs online.
*Cost source for a Hyundai Tucson.
*Popularity of Hyundai Tucson source.