The cost of owning a vehicle includes much more than its purchase price. Car, truck and motorcycle owners also must factor in the price of gas, maintenance, parking or toll fees and — of course — insurance. A recent article in U.S. News and World Report suggested that car owners avoid outputting more than 15% of their monthly take-home pay on automobile expenses, and that price should include insurance and maintenance. It follows that savvy automobile owners determine what they can afford before deciding what car or truck they want; not the other way around. Other finance experts are even more frugal when determining how much automobile expenses an individual can afford. The good news for some drivers is that geography can help with the process of budgeting for a vehicle as cities with higher costs of living also are likely to be more expensive places to own automobiles. The slideshow above illustrates the 10 least expensive cities for being a car owner, according to The Zebra. Cities that made this list have comparatively low auto insurance rates, turnpike tolls and parking fees. For those who don't have the option of relocating simply to lower their vehicle expense, Edmunds, the online automotive research site, offers an Auto Affordability Calculator. Keep reading... |

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