Four of the Five Least Expensive Car Brands to Maintain Are American
Tesla costs the least; German brands the most, in CR’s exclusive analysis
Car ownership costs go far beyond what you pay for a car. A key question is whether you can afford the drip, drip of maintenance and repairs for as long as you own it.
To better understand how costs increase over time and differ by brand, we asked members in our 2023 Annual Auto Surveys to tell us how much they paid out of pocket for their total maintenance (oil changes, tires, etc.) and repairs during the previous 12 months. We did not include costs associated with collision repair.
We found that there are significant differences in costs as cars age, underscoring how maintenance and repair expenses rise over time.
The comparison for fresher cars is muddied because a number of brands, including BMW and Toyota, offer free maintenance periods on new cars. And usually, cars need very little work in the first couple of years beyond an oil change and tire rotation. Nearly all new-car warranties last at least three years, and repairs, if needed, are covered. The analysis shows that costs can skyrocket when the warranty and free maintenance periods are over.
Maintenance and Repair Cost by Brand
Make Your Car Last
Cars these days can run for 200,000 miles and more. On the "Consumer 101" TV show, host Jack Rico learns from Consumer Reports’ auto expert, Jen Stockburger, what you can do to get the maximum life out of your vehicle.
