Which cars cost the most and least to maintain and repair?

Buying a car costs more than just the MSRP. If you want to keep your car in good condition, you need to maintain it over time. However, maintenance costs can vary greatly depending on the car brand.

Consumer Reports asked members about their total out-of-pocket maintenance costs during the first five years and second five years of their car’s life as part of its 2023 annual car survey.

“The difference in servicing a car can average thousands over a 10-year period for some brands,” said Steven Elek, program manager for auto data analytics at Consumer Reports. “Plus, expensive luxury vehicles are often quite expensive to maintain over time.”

It turns out that German brands tend to be the most expensive to maintain.

“If you are considering a luxury model, it may make sense to purchase one from a domestic brand, which may have lower maintenance and repair costs,” Elek added. “For example, Mercedes-Benz (over 10 years)MBGYY) models are more than twice as expensive to maintain and repair as Lincoln’s (F).”

See which five brands had the highest and lowest maintenance costs over a ten-year period.