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GovMath.

Vehicles · 2025/26

Commuter Comparison: Train vs Car

A rail season ticket looks expensive on day one — but compare it to fuel, parking and the wear it saves on your car and the answer often surprises people.

£
mi
mpg
p/L
£
days
wks

Verdict

Rail saves £19/yr

Compare the two annual totals below.

Rail

  • Annual season ticket
    £3,200

Driving

  • Fuel
    £1,011
  • Parking
    £1,380
  • Wear & tear (12p/mi)
    £828
  • Total annual driving cost
    £3,219

How we calculated your result

Driving cost = annual miles ÷ mpg × 4.546 L per gallon × pump price, plus daily parking and 12p/mile for wear & tear (the residual once HMRC AMAP fuel is stripped out). Rail cost is whatever you enter for your annual season ticket.

Official UK rules in simple English

  • UK fuel prices include 52.95p/L duty + 20% VAT — the pump price drives the calc.
  • Annual season tickets cost ~40× the weekly fare on most national rail routes.
  • Salary-sacrifice season ticket loans are interest-free up to £10,000.
  • HMRC’s 45p/mile (first 10k) covers fuel + running costs for business travel only — not commuting.

Common pitfalls to watch out for

  • ⚠ Forgetting depreciation

    High-mileage cars lose value faster. The 12p/mile default is a fuel-less running cost — add 5–10p more for serious depreciation if the car is new.

  • ⚠ Ignoring delays

    Rail buys reliability and the ability to work in transit. If your time is worth £20/hr, an extra hour in traffic shifts the calc.

  • ⚠ Hidden parking costs

    Work parking permits, congestion-zone charges and station car park fees often double the obvious cost of driving.

Frequently asked questions

Can I salary-sacrifice my train ticket?
Most employers offer interest-free season ticket loans repaid over 12 months — saves the upfront sting and keeps the season ticket discount.
What mpg should I use?
Use your real-world figure, not the official combined. Most petrol cars manage 70–85% of the WLTP number; diesels are closer to 90%.
Does this include car insurance and tax?
No — those are fixed costs you pay whether you drive or not. Add them only if you’d genuinely give up the car.

Estimates only. Wear & tear varies hugely by vehicle age. Always check your actual season ticket price at nationalrail.co.uk.

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