It's been 9 months since I ditched the car-free lifestyle in LA. Here's what it costs me.

• After living in LA without a car for over a year, I bought one last fall.
• I don't have an auto loan, but between gas, insurance, and other costs, I spend about $250 a month on my car.
• Then there are the irregular expenses, such as oil changes and maintenance.

Spending nearly $100 to fill up my tank a few weeks ago prompted me to revisit the cost of car ownership in LA.

When I gave up living car-free about nine months ago, I knew my life would get more expensive, even if it also got easier. Bike commuting, it turns out, takes a lot of planning and logistics. I just wasn't sure how much more I'd be spending.

So I pulled up my trusty (and robust) Google Sheet, where I've been tracking my spending since 2017.

I don't have a car payment. I bought my brother's car in cash when he moved out of the country, which helped me avoid hidden dealership fees and sales/use tax. Still, owning a car has added a few new line items to my budget. Mainly, gas and insurance.

Gas: $120 - $135 per month

Fuel is a hot topic right now. On March 31, the national average price for a gallon of regular gas climbed to $4.018, according to AAA. California, where I live, happens to have the most expensive fuel in the country, with an average price of $5.89 a gallon.

The last time I filled up, on March 22, I spent $91.19.

Last fall, it was closer to $80 to fill my tank, which I do about 1.5 times a month on average.

According to my expense tracker, I spent $160 on gas in December 2025, $120 in January, and $0 in February, as I was traveling most of that month.

Car insurance: $75 a month

Last fall, I spent about an hour researching insurance companies and requesting quotes. The most basic coverage in California would have cost me about $55, while a more standard package came in around $200 to $250. I opted for basic coverage with a few add-ons and now pay USAA $75 a month.

Car wash: $55 a month

I'm a neat freak, so I pay $55 for a mobile car wash service most months. Sure, I could spend a fraction of that at a DIY car wash, but I'd rather save the time and let the experts handle it. Unfortunately for my wallet, this line item is non-negotiable. What can I say? Driving a squeaky-clean car makes me happy.

Between gas, insurance, and car washes, I can expect to spend $250 a month on my car.

Then there are the surprise expenses. In December, I paid $165.32 for an oil change. So far, I've avoided major repairs. I've also managed to avoid parking tickets, which is no small feat in this town!

Street parking outside my apartment is free, but I have to move my car twice a week for street sweeping. Forget once, and it's a $73 citation. I tell myself the time I spend moving my car is still less than what I used to spend biking from place to place, though with LA traffic, it may be a toss-up.

I do have the option to pay $150 a month for a parking space outside my apartment, but that would push my monthly car fixed costs to about $400. I'd rather set an alarm for street sweeping each week.

Sometimes I really miss the simplicity of the bike life, but I don't miss spending time analyzing maps, looking for routes with bike lanes, or having to ask friends for rides and then feeling guilty when I couldn't return the favor.

In an ideal world, I'd only use the car when I absolutely have to, bike everywhere else, and keep my fill-ups to once a month. I'm not there yet, but am working on it.