Car upkeep is one of those bills that hides until it doesn’t. One month costs nothing, and the next brings new tires and a brake job in the same week.
That uneven pattern is why knowing your average car maintenance cost per year helps. Below, you’ll see what goes into the bill, how age, brand and vehicle type move it, and how to turn it into a monthly amount you can save.
What Is the Average Car Maintenance Cost per Year?
The honest answer is that it depends on what you drive. A compact car still under warranty and a 12-year-old SUV can land far apart in the same year, even with similar mileage.
So break the yearly cost into three buckets. Seeing them separately makes your own total much easier to estimate.
Routine Maintenance
This is the scheduled work in your owner’s manual, like oil changes, tire rotations, filters and fluids. These visits are predictable, so a quick call to your shop can price them ahead of time.
Wear and Tear Items
Tires, brake pads, batteries and wipers wear out with use rather than on a calendar. The more miles you drive, the sooner they come due.
Surprise Repairs
This bucket hurts most. AAA has reported that the average repair bill is between $500 and $600, and it urges drivers to save at least $50 a month for unforeseen expenses.
That’s $600 a year just for the unexpected, by our math. Treat it as a floor, then add routine and wear items on top.
How Your Car’s Age Changes the Yearly Cost
Age is the biggest driver of maintenance costs. Consumer Reports’ owner surveys show that as a car ages, its maintenance and repair expenses go up.
Newer models are cheap to run for a while, and some brands, including Nissan and Toyota, offer free maintenance at first.
Consumer Reports notes that nearly all new-car warranties last at least three years, and that cars usually need little beyond oil changes and tire rotations early on.
Once the warranty ends, repairs come out of your pocket. That’s why a 10-year-old car usually costs more to keep up, and why it helps to understand what makes repairs so pricey.
Car Maintenance Costs by Brand
The badge on the hood matters too. In Consumer Reports’ survey analysis, Buick had the lowest maintenance costs among all automakers, followed closely by Lincoln.
Toyota, Hyundai and Tesla came next in its 10-year ranking. Several European luxury brands, including Audi, BMW, Land Rover, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche and Volvo, clustered as the most expensive.
If you’re shopping, check a brand’s track record, because a cheaper sticker can cost more over the years you own it.
Used Cars, Luxury Cars, Trucks and Electric Vehicles
A used car often costs less up front but more to maintain, since it’s closer to the age when repairs start. Ask for service records, because a well-kept one is usually the safer bet.
Luxury cars tend to need pricier parts and specialist labor. Trucks and big SUVs carry heavier parts, so plan for higher wear and tear costs.
Electric vehicles have no engine oil to change, but they still need tires, brakes and routine checks. Don’t budget zero for one.
How Much Is Car Maintenance per Month?
Divide your yearly estimate by 12. That turns lumpy shop bills into a steady line in your budget.
No estimate yet? Start with AAA’s $50 a month for surprises, add routine care, and adjust up for an older model or high mileage.
Keeping that money in a sinking fund helps it stay put until a repair comes due.
How to Work Out Your Own Yearly Number
Your own records beat any national average. Add up last year’s receipts for oil changes, tires, brakes and repairs, then check your manual for big services due this year.
Here’s a hypothetical example. If your receipts total $900, set aside $75 a month, and raise it if a big service is coming.
To cut that total, these ways to save on car maintenance target routine bills first. The same habits can also trim your other car expenses, such as insurance and fuel.
What to Do When a Big Repair Bill Shows Up
Many drivers aren’t ready for one. A 2017 AAA survey found that 64 million American drivers could not pay for an unexpected repair without going into debt.
Before agreeing to work, get a written estimate and consider a second opinion, as AAA suggests. You can often get a free diagnostic check first, and some options let you get repairs for free when money is very tight.
Skipping service rarely saves money. AAA reports that a previous survey found one-third of U.S. drivers skip or delay recommended service or repairs, which raises the chance of a bigger failure.
Some owners buy a vehicle service contract to spread that risk. If you’re weighing one, look closely at what CarShield covers before you pay.
The Bottom Line on Your Yearly Maintenance Bill
Maintenance is only part of what driving costs you. AAA put the average cost of owning and operating a vehicle at more than $8,500 a year in 2017, including payments, insurance and fuel.
So trim the other lines too. Compare a Costco car insurance quote, learn how to lower your insurance after an accident or make insurance cheaper for young drivers.
Start with your receipts, set a monthly amount and revisit it as the vehicle ages. The same steady approach can lower your other bills too.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost annually to maintain a car?
It depends on your car’s age, brand and mileage, so start from your own receipts. AAA’s advice to save at least $50 a month for surprise repairs sets a floor of about $600 a year before routine care.
How much does it cost to keep a car per year?
Far more than maintenance alone. AAA put the average cost of owning and operating a vehicle at more than $8,500 a year in 2017.
What is the 30-60-90 rule for car maintenance?
It’s common shorthand for the bigger scheduled services many cars need around 30,000, 60,000 and 90,000 miles. Your owner’s manual lists what each includes.
What maintenance does a car need at 100,000 miles?
Check your owner’s manual, because the list varies by make and model. Expect costs to climb, since repair and maintenance expenses rise as a vehicle ages.