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Earning your own money

Lesson 45 · Written for kid, teen, and little

What a Car Really Costs

Gas, insurance and repairs add to the price on the sticker.

The idea

The price on the windshield is only the start of what a car costs. You also pay for fuel or charging, insurance, registration, repairs, tires and sometimes parking, and those costs come back every single year. Cars usually lose value as they get older, which is called depreciation. Adding up a full year of costs before you buy tells you what you can truly afford, instead of just what you can afford on day one. 🚗

A

Words to know

5

Sticker price

The price on the car itself, before any other costs. A $9,000 car is never really $9,000.

Insurance

Insurance helps cover specified losses under a policy. Price, coverage and deductibles vary; get an actual quote rather than assuming one monthly price.

Depreciation

How much value something loses as it gets older. A new car can lose thousands of dollars in its first year.

Maintenance

Regular care like oil changes and new tires.

Registration

A government registration requirement for using a car on public roads. Fees and renewal periods depend on where you live.

Try it — no accountTrue or false

Swipe true or false about what cars cost.

Card 1 of 4

The sticker price is the only thing a car ever costs you.

Swipe the card — or tap.

In the full lesson

  1. 1True or false
  2. 2Work out the number
  3. 3Make the call

Vine has 107 lessons like this one, each written three ways so a 7-year-old and a 17-year-old both get a version that fits.

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