Car Costs Exceed $9k Per Year [AUDIO]

The average car owner puts out more than $9,100 a year to keep their vehicle on the road, according to an annual report from AAA.

The report reflected the cost of driving 15,000 miles a year, looking at several factors like gas, maintenance and insurance. The exact price tag reached $9,122, or just under 61 cents per mile, a roughly two-percent jump from a year ago.

"Gas prices were really not a big reason for this increase," said AAA Mid-Atlantic's Jim Lardear. "It's the vehicle maintenance and repair costs that we've seen, showing double-digit price spikes."

Lardear said extended warranty policies also jumped in price.

In addition, due to the weak economy, drivers have been keeping their vehicles for a longer period of time. Repair and maintenance were the cheaper options over purchasing a new vehicle.

Lardear said preventative maintenance is the key to possibly avoiding the $9k/year tab.

"You've really got to be doing some of the basic things. Check the oil," he said, noting that drivers shouldn't only take care of their vehicles when the check engine light turns on.

"That's going to save you a lot of headaches and money down the road," Lardear said.