North Carolina motorists can expect to pay 7 cents less per mile to drive in 2009 resulting in an annual savings of $1,050 for a driver traveling 15,000 miles a year, according to an analysis by AAA Carolinas.

The average sedan in 2009 will cost 56 cents a mile to drive, compared to 63 cents last year. The decrease can be largely attributed to a drop in the price of regular unleaded gasoline from $3.59 in April 2008 to $2.02 in April 2009. The estimate is based on gasoline averaging around $2 a gallon this year.

The owner of a car would, on average, spend a total of $8,399 for insurance, maintenance, gasoline, tires, taxes, registration, depreciation and finance charges, based on driving 15,000 miles a year. The most expensive ownership cost per mile is 26 cents for depreciation based on 18 percent per year for a new 2009 model year automobile.

"The lower operating costs represent good news in these hard economic times," said David E. Parsons, president and CEO of AAA Carolinas.

AAA's annual driving cost analysis informs motorists of operating expenses and the real costs in operating an automobile.

Behind depreciation, operating costs, which include gas, maintenance and tires, are calculated to cost 13 cents per mile. (See attached chart).

AAA compared the cost of vehicles in three separate car categories -- small, medium and large sedans as well as spot-utility vehicles (SUVs) and minivans. The estimates in this release are based on an average of the three sedan categories.

SUV and minivan costs dropped as well, with SUVs costing $11,260 a year to own and operate and minivans costing $9,353 a year.

AAA's 2009 analysis uses the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) revised fuel-economy estimates intended to better reflect "real world" conditions as opposed to laboratory tests.

"AAA helped lead the fight with the EPA to accurately calculate fuel economy because new car buyers were being misled by the vehicle's miles per gallon estimates," said Parsons. "They rarely reflected reality."

Annual driving costs calculations use standardized criteria designed to model the average use of a vehicle for personal transportation over five years and 75,000 miles of ownership. Actual driving costs will vary based on individual driving habits, location, operating costs and other factors.

A national pamphlet, "Your Driving Costs," is available through AAA Carolinas by calling (704) 569-7883. The pamphlet provides detailed information on the costs associated with owning and operating a vehicle nationally.