EV savings calculator
Switch or Stay?
Find out if a new EV, hybrid or gas car will actually save you money, or if keeping what you have is the smarter move. Five short steps, and it does the real math with you, including what you still owe on your car.
How it decides
Gas savings alone can fool you. A car that saves $150 a month on gas but adds $300 a month in payments costs you money. Switch or Stay? adds up everything over 3, 5 or 10 years: payments and interest, sales tax and fees, fuel or charging, insurance, maintenance and what each car is worth at the end.
If you're paying off a loan, it counts what you still owe. Trading in a car you're upside down on rolls that gap into the new loan, and the calculator shows it. If an EV doesn't fit how you charge, or you don't drive enough for a switch to pay off, it tells you up front instead of running the numbers anyway.
The cars and prices come from the same hand-researched list as the car cost calculator, or you can type in any car you're looking at.
Questions
How does it decide whether to switch or stay?
It adds up what each choice costs you over the years you pick: payments, interest, sales tax and fees, fuel or charging, insurance and upkeep. Then it subtracts what the car would be worth at the end, after paying off any loan left. The lower true cost wins.
What if I owe more than my car is worth?
That gap gets added to your new loan if you trade in, and you pay interest on it. The calculator shows how far upside down you are and about how many months until you're not. Often the smartest move is to wait.
Why isn't saving on gas enough?
A new car usually means a bigger payment, interest, sales tax and the steep value drop of the first few years. Those can easily cost more than the fuel you save, especially if you don't drive much.
Is the federal EV tax credit included?
No. The federal EV tax credits ended for vehicles bought after September 30, 2025. If your state or utility offers an EV rebate, you can enter it, and it only counts toward electric cars.
Is it free?
Yes, with no sign-up. If you want me to look at your numbers, you can send them from the results.