TrueCost

What a car really costs

Support

TrueCost shows what a car really costs to own — purchase, depreciation, running costs and the lot — so you can compare cars honestly before you buy. Here's how to get the most out of it, and how to reach us.

Need a hand? Email phowlett@gmail.com and we'll get back to you. Tell us your device and iOS version, and what you were doing when something went wrong — it helps us fix it faster.

Getting started

How do I add a car?

On the Garage tab, tap Add a car. Enter the make, model and year and TrueCost fills in typical figures for you — price, fuel use, servicing, tyres and more. Every figure is editable, so adjust anything to match your own situation.

What do the grey numbers mean?

A grey number is a suggested estimate to get you started. Tap the field and type your own figure to override it. These are our best typical values for that car — not a quote.

Comparing & deciding

How do I compare two cars?

Add both to your Garage, then open the Compare tab to see them side by side. Quick compare is a faster, throwaway version when you just want a rough head-to-head.

What's the Decide tab?

Decide helps answer "should I switch cars?" — it weighs the cost of keeping your current car against buying a different one over the next few years, including tax if it applies to you.

Logbook

Can I track trips for tax?

Yes. The Logbook tab records business-vs-personal trips for an ATO-style logbook. The minimum ATO period is 12 weeks, so the end date auto-fills to 12 weeks after your start date — you can change it if you need a longer period.

Your data

Where is my data stored? Is it backed up?

Everything stays on your device — there's no account and no server (see our Privacy Policy). To keep a copy or move to a new phone, use Settings → Export backup, and Import to restore it. If you delete the app without exporting first, the data is gone.

Purchases

I paid for the unlock but don't see it.

Open Settings and tap Restore purchases. Make sure you're signed in with the same Apple ID you bought it on. If it still doesn't appear, email us and we'll sort it out.

Accuracy

A figure looks wrong for my car.

Our catalogue uses real manufacturer pricing and typical running costs, but cars vary and prices move. Every field is editable — change it to match reality. If you think our default is off, tell us which car and field and we'll check it.