distance × consumption ÷ 100For 250 km at 6.5 L/100 km, the car uses 16.25 litres.
Free fuel and trip cost calculator
Calculate the real cost of a car trip.
Enter distance, vehicle consumption and fuel price to calculate how much fuel the journey will use, its total cost and how much each passenger should pay. Add tolls, parking or other expenses when they apply.
The formulas
How journey cost is calculated
The calculator keeps fuel or electricity separate from trip extras, then divides only after the total is known.
fuel used × price per litre16.25 L × €1.65/L gives €26.81 after currency rounding.
(energy cost + extras) ÷ people paying€26.81 divided between four people is €6.70 each, with a one-cent rounding remainder possible.
Worked example
A 250 km trip with four people
- Distance
- 250 km
- Consumption
- 6.5 L/100 km
- Fuel price
- €1.65/L
- People paying
- 4
Calculation
Fuel required16.25 L
Fuel cost€26.81
Journey total€26.81
Cost per person€6.70
Currency results are rounded to two decimal places. If a cent remains after splitting, the app assigns the rounding remainder to one share so all shares add up exactly.
What information do I need?
You need the journey distance, the vehicle's average consumption and the current energy price. Add the number of people paying and any shared extras.
Manufacturer consumption figures are useful estimates, but weather, speed, traffic, tyre pressure, load and driving style can change real consumption. Use a recent measured average when accuracy matters.
How much gas money should I ask friends for?
Ask for each person's agreed share of the complete eligible trip cost, not an arbitrary flat amount.
Calculate the fuel or charging cost, add shared tolls, parking and extras, then divide among the people paying. If someone joins halfway or leaves early, use the distance-based passenger method instead of charging everyone for the full route.
Should I calculate a return journey?
Yes, if everyone is sharing the round trip. Enter the full distance for both directions. If different people join each leg, calculate the legs separately so nobody pays for distance they did not travel.
Can I include tolls and parking?
Yes. Add shared tolls, parking and other agreed journey expenses before dividing the total. Personal purchases such as food are usually clearer when kept separate.
Petrol and diesel use the same formula
The calculation is the same for petrol and diesel: litres used multiplied by the price per litre. The vehicle's consumption and the actual pump price are what change. For battery vehicles, use the electric car trip cost guide.
How should the driver be treated?
There is no single fair rule. Divide between everyone when the driver is sharing the outing equally. Exclude the driver when passengers have agreed to cover the trip in return for the driving. See the fuel cost splitting guide for examples.
Common questions
Fuel cost calculator FAQ
How do I calculate fuel cost for a trip?
Multiply distance by vehicle consumption, divide by 100, then multiply the fuel used by the price per litre. Add tolls, parking and other trip costs if needed.
How much gas money should I ask friends for?
Ask for each person's agreed share of the complete eligible trip cost. Calculate fuel from distance, consumption and price, add shared tolls or parking, then divide among the people paying.
How do I calculate cost per passenger?
Add the energy cost and trip extras, then divide the total by the number of people who are paying. If passenger distances differ, calculate by route segment.
Should tolls and parking be included?
Include them only when the group agrees they are shared. Add them before allocating the total and keep personal purchases separate.
Can this calculator estimate an electric car journey?
Yes. Choose Electric car, enter consumption in kWh per 100 km and the electricity price per kWh.
Plan it once. Keep the result.
DriveSplit adds saved vehicles, route planning, transparent splits and short-lived links for passengers.