AAA research shows average annual cost of vehicle ownership hits new high

Experian Automotive’s second-quarter data pegged the average monthly payment for a new vehicle at $550. That’s $25 higher than a year ago. That climb figured in part to new AAA research showing that average annual cost of vehicle ownership jumped 24% to $9,282, or $773.50 a month. That’s the highest cost associated with new vehicle ownership since AAA began tracking expenses in 1950 and a reminder that the true costs of owning a vehicle extend far beyond maintenance and fuel.