These Are the Cars With the Highest Maintenance Costs

If you’ve ever owned or even leased a car, you know that you don’t just pay for it once. Even beyond monthly lease or loan payments, there are tons of other expenses that come with owning a car. Gas is an obvious one, but you’ll likely be on the hook for maintenance costs, too. When you’re shopping for a car, you might be surprised to know that not all maintenance costs are equal.

Why are some cars more expensive to maintain than others?

Most cars require an oil change every six months and a fresh set of tires every few years. These start to add up, and they also don’t account for emergency repairs you might encounter. The make and model of your car is one of the things that determines your insurance premium. This is because certain cars have parts that are more difficult and more expensive to replace.

A Lamborghini Aventador and a Toyota Camry aren’t going to use the same parts. (Sorry if you were expecting otherwise.) Luxury car parts are expensive and more rare. Because of that, an insurance company would pay more for repairs if a driver should file a claim.

It isn’t just parts, either. Let’s return to the gas and oil changes for a moment. Luxury vehicles typically require premium fuel because it helps them maximize speed and performance. They usually take premium oil for the same reason. These extra costs can really add up over time!

Entry models can also be expensive to maintain.

However, luxury vehicles aren’t the only cars that are expensive to maintain. Older models of more common brands can rack up maintenance costs, too. As a vehicle gets older, it usually needs more repairs. As manufacturers move vehicles in and out of circulation and stop making older models, those parts become scarce and more expensive because of that scarcity.

So, what models are the most expensive to maintain over a 10-year period? According to a study conducted by YourMechanic.com (and excluding super high-end sports cars), BMW models top the list with an estimated 10-year maintenance cost of $17,800. This doesn’t even take fuel into account. YourMechanic averaged the cost of two oil changes across all brand models and then multiplied it by ten to make their estimates.

What are the least expensive options?

The next-most expensive brands show a steep drop in estimated expenses. Those brands are Mercedes-Benz ($12,900), Cadillac, and Volvo (both estimated at $12,500). As for the least expensive? That would be Toyota, whose cars only have an average estimated maintenance cost of $5,500 over 10 years.

Of course, the maintenance costs for each model can differ. A Chrysler Sebring is more expensive to maintain than a Chrysler 300. Toyota still tops the list of least expensive models to maintain—a Prius may only run you $4,300 over 10 years. According to YourMechanic, the Kia Soul, Toyota Camry, and Honda Fit are also relatively inexpensive options.

Regardless of how much your maintenance costs, Auto-Savings is ready to help you find the perfect insurance to fit your lifestyle and budget. All you have to do is answer a few simple questions to find better coverage in minutes.