**January 15, 2026** – My car needed new tires. $780. I wasn't ready. My emergency fund took a hit.
**March 22, 2026** – Oil change and brake pads. $340. I'd just recovered from the tires.
**May 10, 2026** – Check engine light. Oxygen sensor. $420.
That's $1,540 in repairs in five months. On a 2018 Honda Civic. Nothing fancy. No accidents. Just normal wear and tear on Denver's potholed roads.
Most people think of car ownership as the monthly payment, insurance, and gas. That's maybe 70% of the true cost. The rest is maintenance, depreciation, registration, parking, and the occasional ticket.
Let me break down the real annual cost of owning a car in Denver in 2026, using data from AAA, the BLS, and my own receipts.
The Big Numbers
- **Average monthly car payment (new car, 6.5% interest, 60 months)**: $550
- **Insurance (full coverage, good driver, Denver zip code)**: $150/month
- **Gas (12,000 miles/year, 28 MPG, $3.80/gal)**: $135/month
- **Maintenance and tires (average over 5 years)**: $80/month
- **Registration and emissions**: $15/month
- **Parking (if you pay for a spot at home or work)**: $50-200/month
- **Parking tickets/speeding tickets (hopefully $0, but budget $10)**: $10/month
- **Depreciation (new car loses 20% in first year, 10% annually after)**: $200-300/month
**Total true monthly cost** (excluding depreciation if you own a paid‑off car): $550 + 150 + 135 + 80 + 15 + 50 + 10 = **$990/month**. With depreciation, closer to $1,200/month.
That's more than many people's rent. That's why I tell clients: if you can live without a car in Denver, do it. RTD is imperfect but a monthly pass costs $100. Add occasional Uber and car share, you're at $200-300/month. That's a savings of $700-900/month.
Scenario: What If You Sell Your Car and Use RTD/Uber?
Let's say you currently own a paid‑off car that still costs you $400/month in insurance, gas, maintenance, and parking. You sell it for $8,000. You then use RTD ($100/month) + $200/month in Ubers/car share. Your transportation cost drops to $300/month. You save $100/month immediately, plus you have $8,000 in cash from the sale.
That $8,000 could go to an emergency fund, paying off credit cards, or a down payment on a home. That's life‑changing.
I had a client, “Jess,” who did exactly this. She sold her car, bought an e‑bike, and used RTD. She went from $450/month in car costs to $120/month. She used the savings to pay off $5,000 in credit card debt in 18 months. She's now debt‑free.
I'm not saying everyone can go car‑free. If you have kids, a long commute, or need a vehicle for work, you're stuck. But for many singles and couples without kids, it's worth considering.
I will keep posting updates on this. Check back soon.
P.S. Sox hates car rides anyway. He'd rather walk.
This article is for informational purposes. Your car costs may vary. Run your own numbers.
Daniel O'Brien
