Our Car Care Tips | Pellman's Automotive (2024)

FAQs

How much does the average person spend on car maintenance per month? ›

According to AAA, car maintenance costs roughly $800 a year, or about $66 a month. This includes routine maintenance like oil changes, tire rotations, and multipoint inspections. Unexpected repairs – following a collision or malfunction – can be harder to predict.

Every 15,000 miles, you should get a new air filter. Inspect your battery and coolant every 20,000 miles. At 25,000 miles, most manufacturer's recommend you replace your fuel filter. At 30,000 miles, you should again replace the air filer and you should flush and replace your power steering fluid.

When you take into account loan interest, depreciation, fuel, insurance, maintenance and fees, the cost of owning a car makes a big leap. For new vehicles driven 15,000 miles a year, average car ownership costs were $12,182 a year, or $1,015 a month, in 2023, according to AAA.

Allocate money each month: AAA recommends you put aside at least $50 a month to cover even the basic car maintenance expenses you'll experience each year, such as routine oil changes – which on new cars that require synthetic oil can now cost more than $100.

Typically, a conventional vehicle lasts for 200,000 miles. The average automobile age in the United States has increased over the past several decades. Currently, it's around 12 years for a passenger car, according to data from IHS Markit and the federal government.

Standard cars in this day and age are expected to keep running up to 200,000 miles, while cars with electric engines are expected to last for up to 300,000 miles. Keeping a car that long has a lot of benefits, including the fact that it could save you a great deal of money.

Usually, basic car maintenance involves checking or replacing parts like spark plugs, wires, fluids, and serpentine belts. Scheduling maintenance services through your dealer may be best. There are at least three good reasons for this: The first reason: genuine parts and expert customer care.

If none of the previous issues are forcing you to replace your spark plugs, you can typically change them every 30,000 to 90,000 miles depending on the make and model of your car.

Depending on the car's value, repairing it might be worth the money to keep it going for a few more years. However, most modern gasoline-powered vehicles will start to struggle after the 200,000-mile mark. Electric cars can usually make it up to 300,000 miles before they're considered well used.

Should you go by oil life or mileage? ›

Generally, it is best to follow the oil life indicator provided by your vehicle's onboard computer, as it gives a more accurate reflection of your oil's condition. However, if your vehicle doesn't have an oil life monitor, adhering to the mileage recommendations in your owner's manual is a reliable method.

A: ⁣The cost ​to get your car ⁣serviced depends⁢ on the type of service you need. Generally, regular maintenance and basic services can range from ‌$100 to $350, while more comprehensive⁣ services that involve parts replacement can cost ‌several hundred dollars or more.

The Percentage Rule

The most common home maintenance budgeting approach is the 1% rule. It calls for setting aside at least 1% (and as much as 4%) of your home value each year for repairs and replacements.

Do the math before you walk into a dealership. The total cost of ownership and maintenance should not exceed 15 to 20 percent of your monthly income.