Wartungsheft
How much does a car cost per year in Switzerland?
Most people underestimate what their car costs. You notice fuel and servicing, but not the loss of value. Every year the TCS calculates the costs of a model car; the figures are a good reference point.
The TCS model calculation 2026
The model car has a new price of CHF 45'000 and covers 15'000 kilometres a year. It costs CHF 11'112 a year, or around 74 centimes per kilometre (TCS model car 2026). Of this, CHF 6'977 are fixed costs that arise even when the car is not used, and CHF 4'135 are variable costs that grow with every kilometre.
The TCS breaks down the costs as follows (shares according to the TCS, franc amounts rounded by us from them):
| Item | Share | approx. per year |
|---|---|---|
| Depreciation | 28 % | CHF 3'110 |
| Garaging (parking space) | 16 % | CHF 1'780 |
| Energy (petrol or electricity) | 12 % | CHF 1'330 |
| Loss of value through mileage | 12 % | CHF 1'330 |
| Insurance | 10 % | CHF 1'110 |
| Repairs and servicing | 10 % | CHF 1'110 |
| Miscellaneous (tax, vignette, care) | 8 % | CHF 890 |
| Tyres | 4 % | CHF 445 |
So the biggest chunk is the loss of value: depreciation and mileage-related loss of value together make up 40 per cent.
Petrol is more expensive in 2026 than in the calculation
The TCS calculated with CHF 1.71 per litre of unleaded 95 (TCS press release). In mid-September 2026, however, a litre cost CHF 2.10 on average, diesel CHF 2.38 (Tages-Anzeiger). As a TCS rule of thumb, 16 centimes more per litre raises the costs by one centime per kilometre (TCS kilometre costs). For the model car that is around 2.4 centimes more per kilometre, or about 360 francs a year.
The fixed items in detail
- Vignette (motorway sticker): CHF 40, valid from 1 December of the previous year to 31 January of the following year. Without a vignette you pay a fine of 200 francs plus the vignette (ch.ch).
- Motor vehicle tax: depends heavily on the canton. For a Škoda Octavia 2.0 TSI, according to the TCS, it is between CHF 264 and 669 a year, CHF 453 on average; in Zurich it is CHF 338, in St. Gallen CHF 636 (TCS tax comparison, as of February 2026).
- Insurance: In a Comparis survey from January 2026, 27 per cent paid between 500 and 799 francs a year and 26 per cent between 800 and 1'199 francs; 45 per cent reported a premium increase (Comparis). Of those who switched, 44 per cent saved at least 200 francs.
Servicing and repairs: 10 per cent, but not evenly spread
For the model car, repairs and servicing come to around 1'100 francs a year. The TCS points out that this figure is too high in the first two to four years, because the car is then usually still under warranty: the money should be put aside for years eight to ten. Individual repairs such as a new diesel particulate filter can cost up to 7'000 francs (TCS kilometre costs).
For a car older than ten years, depreciation no longer applies, but maintenance and repairs increase. That is exactly when it pays to know what you have really spent in recent years.
How to work out your own costs
- TCS calculator: For CHF 14.90 the TCS calculates the kilometre costs of your model; you need the list price including extras, kilometres per year and consumption. The calculator is inaccurate for cars over CHF 120'000, for cars over ten years old and for under 5'000 kilometres a year (TCS kilometre costs).
- Free: The TCS car search shows the statistical average costs for current new cars.
- Your own figures: Your actual spending is the most accurate. Collect all invoices for servicing, repairs and tyres for a year and add tax, insurance and vignette. If you photograph your garage invoices anyway, you have the total per vehicle and year with no extra effort.
How to read a garage invoice is explained in the guide Understanding your garage invoice.