Ford F-150 Ownership Costs: What Does It Really Cost to Own?
About This Video
This video follows the real ownership costs of a 2017 Ford F-150 over roughly three years and 32,339 miles. Instead of looking only at the truck’s original price, the owner goes through the money he actually spent while driving it. That includes his lease payments, routine maintenance, optional upgrades, taxes and fees, fuel, and the value left in the truck when he was preparing to move on. He reports $345 in maintenance during the period and says he did not have any paid mechanical repairs. Fuel adds another useful part of the story. The owner reports an average of 15.4 MPG over 32,339 miles. Using an average gasoline price of $2.49 per gallon for his calculation, he estimates that he used about 2,100 gallons and spent approximately $5,228 on fuel. After adding fuel to his other costs and accounting for the equity remaining in the truck, his final estimate comes to about $22,491 over the ownership period.
These numbers should be viewed as one owner’s experience rather than a typical cost for every Ford F-150. His truck, lease agreement, location, mileage, fuel prices, maintenance needs, upgrades, and resale value all shaped the final amount. Another F-150 could cost considerably more or less to own. Insurance is also not included in his final calculation, so the video does not capture every expense an owner may face. The value of this example is seeing how costs that seem separate eventually come together. A monthly payment may be the largest expense you notice first, but fuel, maintenance, taxes, repairs, insurance, and changes in the truck’s value can make a large difference over several years. If you’re considering an F-150, this video gives you a practical example of the expenses worth adding to your own ownership budget.
Key Points Covered in This Video
- Real-world 2017 Ford F-150 ownership example
- -month lease payment costs
- Maintenance expenses during ownership
- Oil changes and tire rotations
- Wiper blade replacement
- Truck upgrades and modification costs
- Taxes and fees
- Lease buyout costs
- Trade-in value and remaining equity
- ,339 miles of driving
- 4 MPG reported average
- Estimated fuel spending
- Three-year ownership cost
- Costs can vary from one F-150 owner to another
Sources and Further Reading
FlipCars Video Notes
Click to view the video notes
The price you pay for an F-150 is only one part of what the truck can cost you. Payments, fuel, maintenance, repairs, taxes, insurance, tires, and loss of value can all affect how much money eventually comes out of your pocket.
The truck shown in this video is a 2017 Ford F-150 that the owner leased for 36 months. He uses his own records to explain what he spent while driving the truck. This makes the video a real ownership example rather than an estimate for every F-150. Maintenance was a relatively small part of his spending during this period. He reports spending $345 on items that included oil changes, tire rotations, and wiper blades. He also says the truck did not require paid mechanical repairs during his ownership period. That does not mean another F-150 will have the same experience. Repair costs can change greatly with age, mileage, maintenance history, use, and vehicle condition. The owner also spent money modifying the truck. Those costs should be separated from normal maintenance because upgrades are optional. You do not need to modify an F-150 simply to own and operate it. Fuel was another major expense. The truck had travelled 32,339 miles, and the owner reported an average of 15.4 MPG. Using the fuel-price estimate in the video, he calculated that he had spent about $5,228 on gasoline. Your fuel cost could be much higher or lower depending on your engine, driving habits, annual mileage, towing, fuel prices, and road conditions.
The video also shows why the value of the truck matters. When an owner sells or trades a vehicle, the amount it is worth can change the final ownership calculation. Used vehicle prices can rise or fall, so the value shown in this older example should not be used to predict what an F-150 will be worth today or several years from now. In the video’s final calculation, the owner estimates that this particular F-150 cost him about $22,491 over roughly three years when fuel was included. This number describes his situation at that time. It is not a standard three-year ownership price for an F-150. If you are working out what an F-150 could cost you, build the estimate around your own truck. Include the purchase or lease payment, interest when applicable, fuel, insurance, maintenance, possible repairs, tires, registration and taxes. Then consider how much the truck may be worth when you eventually sell or trade it.
