Businesses generally are allowed to depreciate automobiles over five years, and you might guess it is because they get a fairly high amount of use. And built i

Businesses generally are allowed to depreciate automobiles over five years, and you might guess it is because they get a fairly high amount of use. And built into the IRS rate is probably an expectation of significant repairs. That changes the capital costs. Most people are paying 4.00 to 5.00 dollars a gallon these days. At a generous $4.00 a gallon, and as you indicate, .04 gallons per mile, gas alone is lately above 0.16 cents a mile. At $5, that would be 0.20 cents. Generously (on the thrifty side) estimating, at minimum, capital, insurance and maintenance doubles cost of gasoline alone.