How to Compare Running Costs of Two Cars in Sri Lanka

When you're choosing between two cars, the sticker price is only the start. The car that's cheaper to buy can easily end up costing you more every month once you add the revenue licence, fuel, emission test, insurance and spare parts. This guide walks you through comparing those costs side by side, so you pick the car that actually suits your budget, not just your first impression.

Key facts

• The revenue licence fee for a private car depends on engine capacity (cc), unladen weight, fuel type and the province it's registered in — bigger and older engines pay more.
• As of November 2026, 92 octane petrol is Rs 424 a litre and auto diesel is Rs 397 a litre, following the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation's price revision effective 2 November 2026 (onlanka.com).
• A petrol, diesel or hybrid car needs an annual Vehicle Emission Test (VET); the standard motor car fee is Rs 1,690 (VAT included), valid for 12 months (vet.lk).
• Pure electric vehicles are exempt from the emission test and sit in their own revenue licence band, but you should still confirm the current fee before you buy.
• Insurance premiums are driven mainly by the car's market value, engine size and safety features, so two cars at the same price can have different premiums.
• Spare parts and servicing are usually cheaper and easier to find for common Japanese models than for rarer brands, which affects your long-term running cost.
• Resale value differs between models even in the same class, so check what similar cars are actually selling for before you commit.

What should you compare besides the price tag?

You should compare at least six things: the revenue licence, fuel cost, emission test, insurance premium, servicing and spare parts cost, and expected resale value. Write both cars' figures down side by side on paper or in a simple spreadsheet — it's the only way to see past the headline price and spot which car will actually cost less over a year or two of ownership. If you're buying on lease, add the monthly instalment too, using the leasing calculator to work out real payments for both options.

How much will the revenue licence cost for each car?

The revenue licence (often called the "licence disc") is renewed every year and its fee depends on your car's engine capacity, unladen weight, fuel type and the province where it's registered — not on how much you paid for the car. As a guide, 2026 fees for a Western Province private car range from roughly Rs 4,640 for a small engine under 1,000cc and under four years old, up to around Rs 25,500 for an engine over 2,500cc and more than ten years old (cardreams.lk). Electric vehicles are assessed on a separate kilowatt band rather than the cc table. Because the exact fee changes with your car's registration details, check the current figure for each car at your nearest Divisional Secretariat office or through the eRevenue Licence (eRL) online service before you compare — don't rely on an old disc you've seen on a similar car.

How much extra will fuel cost you each month?

The cheaper-to-buy car isn't always cheaper to run if it drinks more fuel. As of November 2026, 92 octane petrol costs Rs 424 a litre, 95 octane petrol Rs 490, auto diesel Rs 397 and super diesel Rs 543, following the price revision that took effect on 2 November 2026 (onlanka.com, businessnews.lk). Fuel prices move every few weeks in Sri Lanka, so always check the latest CPC/Ceypetco notice rather than an old number. To compare two cars fairly, work out roughly how many kilometres you drive a month, divide by each car's expected fuel economy, and multiply by the current litre price for the fuel it uses. A smaller-engine car on 92 octane petrol will usually cost less per kilometre than a bigger engine on 95 octane, but a diesel engine can claw some of that back on long highway runs — so do the sum for your own driving pattern rather than assuming.

Does the car need an emission test, and how much is it?

Any petrol, diesel or hybrid car must pass the Vehicle Emission Test (VET) once a year to renew its revenue licence, and the standard fee for a motor car is Rs 1,690 including VAT, valid for 12 months from the test date (vet.lk, dmt.gov.lk). If a car fails, you'll need to get it repaired and retested, and you'll usually pay the test fee again. Pure electric vehicles don't need the VET at all, which is a small but real saving if you're comparing an EV against a petrol or hybrid option. When comparing two conventional cars, the emission test cost itself is small and roughly the same for both, but an older or poorly maintained engine is more likely to fail first time and cost you a retest fee plus repairs — so ask for the seller's latest emission certificate as part of your safety tips checks before you buy either car.

How do insurance premiums differ between two cars?

Insurance premiums are based mainly on the car's market value, engine capacity, and fitted safety or anti-theft features, so two cars at a similar price can still attract different quotes. A car with a higher market value or bigger engine generally costs more to insure comprehensively, while third-party only cover is cheaper but won't pay for damage to your own vehicle. Because premiums vary by insurer and change with the car's current market value, get an actual quote for each specific car — year, model, engine size and condition — rather than guessing from what a friend pays on a different model. Building the insurance quote into your comparison is especially important if one of the two cars is noticeably newer or has a bigger engine than the other.

How do spare parts and servicing costs differ?

Common Japanese models such as Toyota, Honda, Suzuki and Nissan generally have spare parts and trained mechanics widely available across Sri Lanka, which keeps servicing and repair costs more predictable. Less common brands or models, or cars with features unique to a specific trim, can mean longer waits and higher prices for parts when something needs replacing. Before you decide between two cars, ask around — or post the two models on the Wahanaya forum — to find out whether owners of either model struggle to find parts locally, and roughly what a routine service costs for each.

Which car will hold its resale value better?

Resale value depends on how much buyers want that specific model secondhand, which you can check by looking at what similar cars are actually listed and selling for right now. Models that are popular, well-known for reliability, and easy to get parts for tend to hold their value better than less common alternatives, even within the same price bracket today. Use price-check to compare current asking prices for both models you're considering, and browse vehicles to see how many of each are on the market — a model with very few listings and strong demand usually resells better than one that's everywhere.

How do you put the comparison together?

Lay both cars out in one simple table with rows for purchase price, revenue licence, monthly fuel cost, annual emission test fee, insurance quote, expected servicing cost, and resale outlook, then add up the first-year total for each. The car with the lower purchase price doesn't always win once you add these numbers up — a bigger engine, older emission history, or harder-to-find parts can close the gap quickly. Once you've picked a winner, you can list it for sale later with a post-ad listing, or if you're still torn between two specific models, ask the Wahanaya community on the forum — owners of either car can usually tell you in a few lines what the spreadsheet can't.

Sources

• Sri Lanka revises fuel prices from November 2, 2026
• VET Fees
• Vehicle Emission Testing - Department of Motor Traffic
• Revenue Licence & Road Tax in Sri Lanka 2026