Car Maintenance Cost Estimator
What will a used car actually cost to keep on the road? Pick the car, tell us how far you drive, and get two numbers most calculators can't give you: a realistic routine-servicing baseline, and a repair-risk budget built from the documented failure modes of that specific model in the mileage window you'll actually drive through.
How it works
Routine servicing covers oil and filters, brakes, tyres, fluids and inspections. The baseline starts from typical European rates per fuel type (an EV needs markedly less routine work than a diesel), then adjusts for the car's age, a premium-brand parts/labour premium where it applies, and how far you drive each year.
The issue-risk budget is what makes this different from a generic calculator: we check the selected model against our database of documented failure modes — each with a typical mileage window, a repair-cost range and a probability. If a known issue's window overlaps the kilometres you'll drive during your ownership, its probability-weighted cost is added to your budget. A car you keep from 120,000 to 165,000 km faces different risks than the same car from 30,000 to 75,000 km.
It's an estimate, not a quote — independent-specialist labour rates, your country, and the individual car's history all move the real number. Use it to compare candidates and to budget honestly, then verify the specific car.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does car maintenance cost per year?+
A typical mainstream petrol car costs roughly €500–€700 a year in routine servicing and wear items at average mileage; diesels run somewhat higher, EVs markedly lower, and premium brands add a parts-and-labour premium. Age and annual distance push the number up — and model-specific known issues can add far more, which is why this estimator budgets them separately.
Why does the estimate include an issue-risk budget?+
Because the expensive part of ownership is rarely the oil change — it is the model-specific failure that lands in your mileage window. The estimator checks the selected model against documented failure modes, each with a typical mileage range, repair-cost band and probability, and adds the probability-weighted cost of those that overlap the kilometres you will drive.
Are electric cars cheaper to maintain?+
Routinely, yes — no oil changes, far fewer moving parts, and less brake wear thanks to regeneration typically cut routine costs by a third or more. The EV-specific risk to budget for instead is the high-voltage battery’s health, which is a purchase-time check rather than a service item.
Is this estimate accurate for my exact car?+
It is a budgeting estimate, not a quote. Labour rates differ by country and workshop, and an individual car’s history matters. The routine baseline reflects typical European rates; the issue-risk budget reflects documented failure modes for the model. For a specific car, run it through the analyzer for the full reliability and price verdict.