Owner Cost Logs let you record recurring and one-off costs — fuel, insurance, scheduled maintenance, repairs — against a specific vehicle in your Garage, entered manually or via monthly reminder prompts. Logs are private by default; you can opt in to publish an anonymized running total (cost-per-mile/km, categorized breakdown) to the model's public cost page, which is the data source for the site's ownership-cost content.
At a glance
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Default visibility | Private |
| Entry method | Manual, with optional monthly reminder |
| Categories tracked | Fuel/energy, insurance, maintenance, repairs, other |
| Public opt-in | Anonymized totals only, no personal identifiers |
| Data use | Feeds aggregated model cost-of-ownership pages |
What you can log
The tool covers five cost categories: fuel or charging, insurance premiums, scheduled maintenance, unscheduled repairs, and a catch-all "other" bucket (tolls, parking, registration fees). Each entry takes an amount, date, category, and an optional note — there's no requirement to attach a receipt, though you can if you want a personal record.
Step by step: setting up cost tracking
- Open the vehicle's page in My Garage and select "Cost log."
- Add entries manually as costs occur, or turn on the monthly reminder to prompt you to log fuel/mileage.
- Review your running totals and category breakdown any time from the vehicle's Cost Log tab.
- Optionally opt in to "Share anonymized totals" to contribute to the model's public cost page.
What stays private vs. what can be shared
| Data | Visibility |
|---|---|
| Individual line-item entries | Always private, visible only to you |
| Your name/account tied to totals | Never shared, even if you opt in |
| Aggregated category totals (opt-in) | Anonymized and pooled into the model's public cost page |
| Cost-per-mile/km average (opt-in) | Anonymized and pooled |
How the public model cost pages use this data
When enough owners of the same model opt in, the aggregated, de-identified figures feed the "Real cost of ownership" section on that model's hub page — for example, a median annual maintenance cost range drawn from a pool of contributing owners rather than a single estimate. Pages state the sample size and time window the figures are drawn from.
Aggregated cost figures reflect self-reported data from opted-in owners, not an independent audit — they're a useful directional signal, not a guaranteed number for your specific situation, which varies by region, driving habits, and insurance history.
Common logging mistakes
- Logging fuel cost but skipping insurance, which skews the total-cost picture significantly.
- Forgetting to log a major repair, which understates true ownership cost when comparing against other models.
- Assuming opting in shares your identity — it doesn't; only pooled, anonymized totals are shared.
Exporting your own data
Your full log can be exported as a CSV at any time from the Cost Log tab — useful for tax records, resale negotiations, or just your own budgeting outside the site.
Frequently asked questions
Is my cost log visible to other people?
Do I have to log costs manually every time?
Can I export my cost log?
How does this feed the model cost-of-ownership pages?
What if I forget to log a big repair?
Sources & further reading
Figures, prices and policy details were current at the last-updated date above. Automotive pricing, incentives and regulations change frequently — verify time-sensitive details with the linked primary sources. Read our editorial policy and fact-checking standards.
