<br><div><aside class="gnt_em gnt_em__fp gnt_em_vp__tp gnt_em__el" aria-label="Video - Here's why car recalls have been on the rise and what to do if your car has one"/><ul class="gnt_ar_sh"><li class="gnt_ar_sh_li">The average cost to own and operate a new car this year is $10,728 per year, per AAA.</li><li class="gnt_ar_sh_li">Ownership costs are up 11% from last year.</li><li class="gnt_ar_sh_li">Vehicle prices are also up as manufacturers struggle to keep up with demand.</li></ul><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">The average cost to own and operate a new car in 2022 has soared about 11% since last year to $10,728 per year (just under $900 per month), according to AAA's annual <a target="_blank" href="https://newsroom.aaa.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/2022-YourDrivingCosts-FactSheet-7-1.pdf" rel="noopener" data-t-l=":b|e|inline click|${u}" class="gnt_ar_b_a">"Your Driving Costs" report</a>.</p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">The report factors in costs such as fuel, depreciation, insurance and maintenance to find total annual operating expenses. </p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">"You're usually focused on the purchase price and that is not the whole story. Not even close," said <a target="_blank" href="https://newsroom.aaa.com/2022/08/annual-cost-of-new-car-ownership-crosses-10k-mark/" rel="noopener" data-t-l=":b|e|inline click|${u}" class="gnt_ar_b_a">Greg Brannon</a>, director of automotive engineering for AAA. "I think ($10,000 is) a number that will surprise a lot of people."</p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">The study, released earlier this month, does not account for used car prices. </p><figure class="gnt_em gnt_em_img"><img class="gnt_em_img_i" style="height:440px" data-g-r="lazy" src="https://www.gannett-cdn.com/presto/2021/08/05/USAT/ee1cf5bb-c76f-4902-8e9a-db3d67a62578-AP_Biz_New_Car_Sales.jpg?width=660&height=440&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp" srcset="https://www.gannett-cdn.com/presto/2021/08/05/USAT/ee1cf5bb-c76f-4902-8e9a-db3d67a62578-AP_Biz_New_Car_Sales.jpg?width=1320&height=880&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp 2x" decoding="async" alt="The average cost to own and operate a new car in 2022 has soared to $10,728 per year, according to AAA."/></figure><h2 class="gnt_ar_b_mt">Why is owning a car so expensive right now?</h2><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">High fuel prices have pushed car ownership costs up this year. </p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><a target="_blank" href="/story/money/2022/08/17/gas-prices-aaa-3-gallon/10333666002/" rel="noopener" data-t-l=":b|e|inline click|${u}" class="gnt_ar_b_a">While regular gas prices have been dropping since mid-June</a>, they remain elevated compared to previous years. The national average as of Wednesday was $3.94 per gallon, up more than $1 per gallon compared with August 2019 and 2020. <strong> </strong></p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">"We're all feeling that at the pump," Brannon said. "That is driving a big piece of (the annual price increase), and particularly with Americans' desire to drive things like pickup trucks that don't get good fuel economy." </p><aside aria-label="advertisement" class="gnt_m gnt_x gnt_x__lbl gnt_x__al"/><p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><strong class="gnt_ar_b_al">Gas prices are dropping across the US:</strong><a target="_blank" href="/story/money/2022/08/17/gas-prices-aaa-3-gallon/10333666002/" rel="noopener" data-t-l=":b|e|spike click:11|${u}" class="gnt_ar_b_a">Why now? Which states could hit $3 per gallon?</a></p><h2 class="gnt_ar_b_mt">How...</h2></div> <style> .wrapper { text-align: center; } </style> <div class="wrapper"> <a class="button" href ="https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2022/08/18/owning-car-cost-more-expensive/10349454002/">Read more <span>➤</span></a> </div>
