When it comes to owning a car, there are a lot of expenses to consider. From car payments and insurance premiums to routine maintenance and unexpected repairs, it's important to stay within your budget. To help you do that, it's important to understand the costs associated with car maintenance. For starters, you can save money by doing some of the work yourself.
Changing the oil and oil filter, for example, is something you can do at home. You should also replace your car battery every three years, especially if your car is exposed to hot conditions. Additionally, you should get quotes from several auto insurance agencies and explore what coverage you could reduce as your car ages. It's also important to consider the cost of a new car versus an older one.
For the cost of owning a new car for a year, you could have a paid car for five years and still have money left over for tolls. We found that there are significant differences in costs between 5 and 10 year old models, which means cars need more maintenance and repairs over time. Routine maintenance can cost hundreds of dollars a year depending on the make and model of your car and your driving habits. Keeping up with routine vehicle maintenance will keep your car running as it should and keep you and your passengers safe.
It's also important to note that some car manufacturers tend to be more reliable than others, and some car brands tend to have certain mechanical problems over time. To give you an idea of what the average car maintenance cost looks like, here's a breakdown of how much each service item should cost and how often these services should be performed. Maintenance costs vary by vehicle type and age, but there are a few basics that almost every car needs.
