<p>Unfortunately, cars that are cheap to buy aren’t usually cheap to own - they usually have high mileage and need more maintenance than newer cars though some people buy them as “disposables” or “fixer-uppers”. When you buy a car here, you’re going to pay sales tax, registration fees, and have to pass a state inspection for safety and emissions in order to get license plates. You also have to have insurance which can be a bit pricey for young people, especially if they aren’t going to be on their parent’s policy. Gas expenses vary widely, of course, depending on the model and miles being driven. Where I live, gas is currently around $3.75/gal. My D drives only a mile or so to campus and stores and spends about $15 a week on gas, but has an average of $100/month on maintenance and insurance.</p>