The sticker price of a supercar is the starting point, not the finish line. Once you add on-road costs, annual servicing, tyres, insurance, fuel, and the slow drip of depreciation, the real cost of ownership is a very different number. This is a realistic breakdown, using Ferrari and Porsche as examples, of what a supercar actually costs to own in Australia.
Purchase Price and On-Road Costs
The advertised price of a new supercar in Australia includes GST and Luxury Car Tax (LCT). What it does not include are the on-road costs you pay before the car is registered in your name.
Take two benchmark examples – the Ferrari Roma at $381,150 before on-road costs, and the Porsche 911 GT3 RS at $536,500 before on-road costs.
Stamp Duty
Stamp duty is levied by state governments and calculated on the vehicle’s market value. For a $380,000 vehicle in Victoria, the total stamp duty is in the range of $30,000 to $34,000. In New South Wales, the tiered structure produces roughly $16,750 on the same vehicle. In Western Australia, the flat 6.5 per cent rate produces $24,700.
Stamp duty alone can add $15,000 to $34,000 depending on your state. If you are buying between states, or considering moving, this difference is worth factoring in.
Registration and CTP
Registration and CTP combined: approximately $1,000 to $2,000 per year.
Delivery Charges
Most new supercar purchases include a dealer delivery charge, typically $2,000 to $5,000.
Annual Servicing
This is where supercar running costs separate from normal car costs – dramatically.
Ferrari’s 7-Year Genuine Maintenance program is one of the most significant ownership benefits in the prestige segment. Included with all new Ferraris, it covers the cost of all scheduled routine maintenance for the first seven years at intervals of 20,000 km or once per year. It includes labour, spare parts, engine oil, and brake fluid.
After the seven-year period ends, a standard annual inspection and oil service at a Ferrari-authorised dealer costs approximately $1,500 to $3,500. More involved services can reach $5,000 to $8,000.
Porsche does not offer an equivalent maintenance inclusion program. An annual service at a Porsche Centre will typically run $1,500 to $3,000 for a standard oil and inspection service.
Tyres
Tyre costs for supercars are significant and often underestimated.
The Ferrari Roma runs on Pirelli P Zero tyres in sizes 245/35 ZR20 front and 305/30 ZR20 rear. The Porsche 911 GT3 RS uses 275/30 ZR20 front and 335/30 ZR21 rear. A full set of four, supplied and fitted at an Australian tyre specialist, should be budgeted at $3,500 to $6,000.
Wear rates depend heavily on driving style and track use. On public roads alone, a spirited driver might replace a full set every 18,000 to 25,000 km.
Insurance
Specialist agreed-value insurance is the appropriate cover for any supercar. Australian specialist insurers – including Shannons, Enthusiast Motor Insurance, and JUA Underwriting – offer agreed-value policies for high-value and prestige vehicles.
For a Ferrari Roma insured at $400,000 with a driver over 35 with a clean record, an agreed-value policy through a specialist insurer will typically cost $8,000 to $15,000 per year. The Porsche GT3 RS, given its more focused performance profile, is rated similarly or slightly higher.
If you plan to track your GT3 RS, you need separate track day insurance, which adds $500 to $2,000 per day.
Fuel Costs
Both the Roma and GT3 RS require premium 98 RON unleaded. Neither is economical.
At $2.10 per litre for 98 RON fuel and assuming 15,000 km per year:
- Ferrari Roma at 13 litres/100 km: approximately $4,095 per year
- Porsche 911 GT3 RS at 15 litres/100 km: approximately $4,725 per year
Depreciation
Ferraris generally hold their value better than most brands. The 7-Year Genuine Maintenance program and Ferrari’s allocation-controlled approach to production help underpin resale prices.
For budgeting purposes, assume 10 to 15 per cent depreciation over three years for a standard-usage supercar in good condition. On a $380,000 Ferrari Roma, that is $38,000 to $57,000 in depreciation over three years – or $12,700 to $19,000 per year.
Annual Cost Summary
Here is a realistic annual cost estimate for a Ferrari Roma across three ownership scenarios after the seven-year maintenance program has concluded:
- Conservative (low km, no track): approximately $26,000 per year
- Moderate (average use): approximately $38,000 per year
- High (high km, track days): approximately $54,000 per year
For a Porsche 911 GT3 RS:
- Conservative: approximately $30,500 per year
- Moderate: approximately $45,000 per year
- High: approximately $63,500 per year
These figures exclude the initial purchase year’s stamp duty and on-road costs, which are one-off.
The Honest Conclusion
Owning a supercar in Australia costs significantly more than the purchase price suggests. Once you account for stamp duty, specialist insurance, tyre replacement, ongoing servicing, and depreciation, a realistic annual cost of ownership for a car like a Ferrari Roma or Porsche 911 GT3 RS sits between $30,000 and $55,000 per year depending on usage.
That is not a reason not to buy one. It is simply the reality of supercar ownership done properly. Understanding the full cost upfront means no surprises once the keys are in your hand.