Purchasing a new vehicle can be a significant outlay, particularly with the recent rise in car prices driven by inflation and supply chain disruptions. And the sticker price isn’t the only expense to account for — you’ll also need to factor in sales tax and title charges.
But the expense of owning a car extends well beyond the down payment and initial fees. If you take out a loan, you’ll have monthly payments that include interest. You should also plan for rising fuel costs and insurance premiums (which often increase with a newer vehicle).
Another major component of your ongoing auto budget is routine upkeep and repairs. While maintenance costs shouldn’t be the sole criterion in selecting a vehicle, budget-conscious drivers should consider how much they’ll need to spend to keep a car in good working order over time.
We used information from CarEdge, an automotive research firm, to identify the least and most expensive cars to maintain over a decade. Since we’re focusing on consumers watching their wallets, we excluded luxury vehicles — their high sticker prices make them impractical choices for financially prudent buyers.
10 Models With the Lowest 10-Year Maintenance Costs
For 2023, the Toyota Prius ranks as the most economical car to maintain. Over a 10-year span, the typical Prius owner can anticipate spending $4,008 on maintenance.
In fact, the six least expensive cars to keep up are all Toyotas — and the entire top 10 is made up of vehicles from Japanese manufacturers.
Below is the complete list of the cars with the lowest maintenance costs over 10 years:
- Toyota Prius: $4,008
- Toyota Yaris: $4,027
- Toyota Corolla: $4,087
- Toyota Prius Prime: $4,098
- Toyota Camry: $4,203
- Toyota Avalon: $4,407
- Honda Fit: $4,195
- Mitsubishi Mirage: $4,939
- Toyota Supra: $4,950
- Honda Civic: $5,245
10 Models With the Highest 10-Year Maintenance Costs
What about the priciest car to maintain? In 2023, that distinction goes to the Ram 3500, a heavy-duty pickup that’s not a practical choice for most everyday drivers. Owners of the Ram 3500 can expect maintenance bills totaling $25,844 over a decade.
All ten of the most costly vehicles to maintain are from American manufacturers, with Ram occupying seven slots. That’s not shocking: Ram builds trucks for demanding workloads. Their heavy use pushes components harder and results in more maintenance over time.
Here’s the full rundown of the most expensive cars to maintain over 10 years:
- Ram 3500: $25,844
- Ram 2500: $25,464
- Ram 5500: $25,202
- Ram 4500: $25,134
- Ram ProMaster Cargo Van: $20,061
- Ram Promaster City: $19,870
- Ram 1500: $17,677
- Ford F-450 Super Duty: $15,479
- Ford F-350 Super Duty: $14,973
- Ford F-250 Super Duty: $14,929
Average Car Maintenance Costs in 2023
AAA reports that drivers spend an average of 9.68 cents per mile on maintenance, repairs and tires, calculated across five years and 75,000 miles.
Translated to annual terms, that’s about $1,452 per year, or $7,260 over five years.
That means the Toyota Prius — and all of the top 10 cheapest-to-maintain cars — have maintenance costs far below the typical vehicle.
In contrast, those Ram and Ford trucks are substantially pricier to maintain.
How to Figure the Total Cost of Car Ownership
When you buy a vehicle, your expenses go well beyond the purchase price. So what does it truly cost to own a car? AAA estimates $10,728 per year.
Consider these elements when calculating the full cost of ownership:
Vehicle Purchase Price
First, consider the vehicle’s sticker price. In 2023 the average new car price is nearly $50,000.
If you’re buying new, you can check the MSRP online, but some dealers may list higher prices depending on demand. Negotiating can lower the cost, though dealers currently have more leverage due to supply shortages and strong demand.
When purchasing used, research the vehicle history and have a reliable mechanic inspect it. That helps ensure the asking price is reasonable.
Loan Payments
Unless you’re buying a low-cost used car outright, you’ll likely finance part of the purchase. You’ll make a down payment and then monthly loan payments that include interest until the loan is repaid. Shorter loan terms reduce total interest paid but raise monthly payments.
Review your monthly budget before committing to a loan to determine what you can afford.
Sales Tax, Title and Registration Fees
Sales tax might not stand out on everyday purchases, but because it’s a percentage of the sale price, it becomes noticeable on a $50,000 vehicle. For example, a 7% tax on $50,000 equals $3,500.
You’ll also pay to title and register the vehicle, and registration fees recur annually. Dealerships may add administrative fees that increase the final price.
Keep in mind: you’ll need to renew your driver’s license periodically (with potential fees), and some states require annual emissions testing.
Fuel Expenses
Gas prices have fluctuated, making annual fuel costs hard to predict. AAA’s estimate is 17.99 cents per mile, but that depends heavily on a vehicle’s fuel efficiency.
You can lower fuel spending by joining gas reward programs and using fuel-focused credit cards.
Greater savings often come from driving hybrids or electric vehicles.
Electric vehicles have unique costs (home charging raises your electricity bill), but some EVs qualify for federal tax credits, which can reduce your tax bill when you file.
Insurance
New cars typically cost more to insure than older models, but many factors influence premiums.
Insurers consider age (where allowed), gender, driving record, location, the vehicle model and even credit history when setting rates.
To cut insurance costs, raise your deductible, opt into usage-based plans, bundle policies, and ask about available discounts.
If you finance a vehicle, lenders often require gap insurance. Once the loan is paid off, contact your agent to drop that coverage.
Maintenance, Repairs and Tires
Vehicles require routine care like oil changes, tire rotations and inspections. Other routine tasks include replacing wiper blades, brake pads and spark plugs.
During inspections, mechanics may find larger issues. Some repairs might be covered by a warranty, but after warranty expiration you’ll be responsible for the costs (unless a recall applies).
As a vehicle ages, expect more expensive repairs like new tires or even an engine replacement. Eventually you’ll need to decide whether continued upkeep is worth it or if trading for a newer vehicle makes sense.
Storage, Parking and Tolls
If you own a home with a garage or have assigned parking, you may avoid storage fees. City residents without curb parking may need to pay for a public garage.
Be prepared to pay for parking while traveling or in urban centers, and account for tolls on certain highways.
Depreciation
Unlike houses, cars typically lose value over time. They are not investments in the traditional sense.
When you’re ready to trade or sell, you usually won’t recoup what you originally paid — the gap is depreciation.
Cars depreciate most rapidly in the early years. If you buy a new car and immediately sell it back, the dealer won’t pay what you paid; the vehicle has already lost value.
Ways to Cut Car Maintenance Costs
Maintenance can become costly, especially as a vehicle gets older. Although unavoidable, you can take measures to reduce expenses:
- Learn basic auto skills:One straightforward way to lower maintenance bills is to handle simple tasks yourself. While complex repairs should be left to professionals, you can replace wiper blades, swap an air filter, and, if comfortable, change the oil. Watch tutorials and enlist an experienced friend the first time you try a new job.
- Skip the dealership when appropriate:Dealership service departments offer advantages like factory parts, brand-specific training and recall repairs at no cost. However, dealership service tends to be pricier than independent mechanics.
- Keep current with scheduled maintenance:Regular oil changes and inspections may be inconvenient, but staying on schedule helps your car run safer and more efficiently. Neglecting maintenance can lead to expensive damage. Routine visits also let mechanics catch small issues before they grow into major (and costly) problems.
- Consider leasing:Leasing often isn’t the most budget-friendly option long-term, but it frequently includes routine maintenance in the lease agreement, so you may not pay for items like oil changes.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
The least expensive car to maintain is the Toyota Prius at $4,008 over 10 years, based on CarEdge data.
In our list of the most affordable cars to maintain, we excluded luxury models because they’re outside many drivers’ budgets. However, the Tesla Model 3 shows a lower 10-year maintenance cost of $3,587.
That said, a new Toyota Prius can cost more than $16,500 less than a Tesla Model 3.
The top 10 most budget-friendly cars to maintain are from Japanese manufacturers: Toyota, Honda and Mitsubishi.
Toyota is particularly notable for reliability. The brand performed above the industry average in J.D. Power’s Vehicle Dependability Study. The Toyota Corolla — the third least costly to maintain in 2023 — even topped the Compact Car category and starts as low as $21,550 new.
American brands dominate the most expensive-to-maintain list. Ram’s average 10-year maintenance cost across its lineup is $16,802, per CarEdge research. There’s a substantial gap between Ram and Jeep (both part of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles), with Jeep averaging $11,476.
Following closely are Chrysler and Dodge (also FCA brands), Ford, Chevrolet, Fiat (another FCA marque) and Buick — all American names.
Subaru and Hyundai (Japanese and Korean, respectively) round out the rest of the top 10.
Methodology: Data from CarEdge’s Cost of Owning a Car research and AAA’s “Your Driving Costs” were used for this analysis.
Alex Carter writes about personal finance and consumer issues from Denver. Alex has experience in editing and journalism at a variety of publications and focuses on topics like insurance, taxes, retirement and budgeting.
