It's Not Just the Price of Gasoline

Does it feel like your wallet is lighter every time you step out of your car?

It's not your imagination.

The California State Automobile Association estimates it now costs the owner of a new sedan $8,776 a year to operate a car that's driven 15,000 miles annually. That's up $284 from last year.

That's despite the fact that the cost of maintenance and insurance have dropped.

Higher costs for fuel and tires as well as quicker depreciation of automobiles are the main culprits for the increase.

Gasoline prices continue to be the driving force.

AAA reports the average cost for a gallon of unleaded regular gasoline nationwide is now $3.69.

In California, the average price for regular unleaded is $4.07. It was $4.03 a week ago, $3.89 a month ago and $3.10 a year ago.

In the Oakland metro area, the average price for unleaded regular is almost $4.o9. It was $4.04 a week ago, $3.89 a month ago and $3.09 a year ago.

In addition, other costs are rising.

Triple A reports the price of tires has risen 14 percent the past year. The rate of depreciation of vehicles has edged up almost 5 percent from a year ago.

All put together, the average cost nationwide for operating a new sedan is now 58.5 cents per mile. That's up almost 2 cents from a year ago.

In case you're wondering, when AAA began this annual survey in 1950, the cost of driving a new car was 9 cents per mile. Of course, gas was 27 cents a gallon then.