Total Cost of Ownership API
Comprehensive 5-year vehicle ownership cost analysis including depreciation, fuel, and maintenance
Calculate comprehensive Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) for any vehicle over a 5-year period. Get detailed breakdowns of all ownership costs including depreciation, fuel, maintenance, repairs, insurance, taxes, and financing.
Endpoint
GET https://api.auto.dev/tco/{vin}Parameters
Path Parameters
| Prop | Type | Default |
|---|---|---|
vin | string | - |
Query Parameters
| Prop | Type | Default |
|---|---|---|
zip? | string | Auto-detected based on user location |
fromZip? | string | - |
Example Request
curl -X GET "https://api.auto.dev/tco/1GYKPDRSXSZ102995?zip=76548&fromZip=60695" \
-H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
-H "Content-Type: application/json"Response Structure
Example Response
{
"vehicle": {
"vin": "1GYKPDRSXSZ102995",
"year": 2025,
"make": "Cadillac",
"model": "XT6",
"manufacturer": "General Motors LLC"
},
"zip": "76548",
"tco": {
"total": {
"federalTaxCredit": 0,
"insurance": 8505,
"maintenance": 6695,
"repairs": 1881,
"taxesAndFees": 4067,
"financeInterest": 11134,
"depreciation": 34660,
"fuel": 10950,
"tcoPrice": 77892,
"averageCostPerMile": 1.04
},
"years": {
"1": {
"insurance": 1586,
"maintenance": 546,
"repairs": 0,
"taxesAndFees": 3823,
"financeInterest": 3814,
"depreciation": 14166,
"fuel": 2063,
"tcoPrice": 25998,
"averageCostPerMile": 1.04
},
"2": {
"insurance": 1642,
"maintenance": 918,
"repairs": 0,
"taxesAndFees": 61,
"financeInterest": 3078,
"depreciation": 5800,
"fuel": 2124,
"tcoPrice": 13623,
"averageCostPerMile": 1.04
},
"3": {
"insurance": 1699,
"maintenance": 735,
"repairs": 0,
"taxesAndFees": 61,
"financeInterest": 2286,
"depreciation": 4739,
"fuel": 2188,
"tcoPrice": 11708,
"averageCostPerMile": 1.04
},
"4": {
"insurance": 1758,
"maintenance": 2515,
"repairs": 745,
"taxesAndFees": 61,
"financeInterest": 1436,
"depreciation": 5313,
"fuel": 2254,
"tcoPrice": 14082,
"averageCostPerMile": 1.04
},
"5": {
"insurance": 1820,
"maintenance": 1981,
"repairs": 1136,
"taxesAndFees": 61,
"financeInterest": 520,
"depreciation": 4642,
"fuel": 2321,
"tcoPrice": 12481,
"averageCostPerMile": 1.04
}
}
}
}Cost Component Analysis
The TCO calculation includes five main cost components:
- Depreciation - Vehicle value loss over time (largest cost factor)
- Fuel Costs - Based on EPA ratings and local fuel prices
- Financing Interest - Loan interest payments over ownership period
- Insurance - Annual insurance premiums based on vehicle and location
- Maintenance & Repairs - Scheduled maintenance and expected repairs
Use Cases
- Vehicle Purchase Decisions: Compare total ownership costs between different vehicles before buying
- Fleet Management: Evaluate long-term costs for fleet vehicle selection and budget planning
- Lease vs Buy Analysis: Calculate comprehensive costs to determine optimal vehicle acquisition strategy
Error Responses
Invalid Location
{
"status": 400,
"error": "Invalid ZIP code format. ZIP code must be 5 digits (e.g., 90210) or 5+4 format (e.g., 90210-1234)",
"code": "INVALID_LOCATION",
"path": "/tco/1GYKPDRSXSZ102995?zip=ABCDE",
"requestId": "d4e5f6g7h8i9j0k1"
}Invalid VIN
{
"status": 400,
"error": "VIN must be exactly 17 characters",
"code": "INVALID_VIN_FORMAT",
"path": "/tco/123Invalid",
"requestId": "a1b2c3d4e5f6g7h8"
}VIN Not Found
{
"status": 404,
"error": "No vehicle data found for the provided VIN",
"code": "VIN_NOT_FOUND",
"path": "/tco/WP0AF2A99KS165242",
"requestId": "b2c3d4e5f6g7h8i9"
}Plan Availability
- Starter: ❌ Not available
- Growth: ✅ Available
- Scale: ✅ Available
See pricing for plan details and signup.
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