What is the average maintenance cost for a car per month

Generally, you should plan to review the following items for potential maintenance each year:. For example, squeaking brakes, abnormal noises from the engine, and a flashing check engine light are all signs that you may need to have your car serviced.

Experts suggest changing your oil every 5, to 7, miles on most newer cars, though older vehicles may require more frequent changes. The benchmark for oil changes used to be every 3, miles, but due to new automotive technology, that amount has increased.

A car engine that requires fully synthetic oil may be able to go 10, miles or more in between oil changes. This bit of routine maintenance is a bit trickier from a timeline perspective.

How often you need to replace your brake pads depends on how often you use your brakes. For example, it could depend on how many city miles you drive vs. Generally speaking, city drivers will need to have their brake pads replaced sooner than those driving in rural areas or those who drive primarily on freeways.

Your personal driving habits will also impact these repairs. If you tend to stop suddenly, tailgate, or ride your brakes while driving, you will need to replace your brake pads sooner than a driver who is in the habit of leaving more distance and braking gradually.

There will be a few signs when you need to repair your brake pads. First, your car may make a screeching sound when you apply the brakes. If your tire treads reach that depth, you should get them replaced. Keeping your tires properly inflated can increase your tires' lifespan by thousands of miles. Tire rotation is another important maintenance item. You should also keep in mind that you'll need to perform tire balancing and alignment on your vehicle every so often to maximize the life of your tires.

When considering the cost of the necessary maintenance for your car, you may be wondering how you can safely cut corners. The good news is that there are several ways to save money on car expenses. Shop around for the best rates on these routine maintenance items, and keep an eye out for coupons.

For example, you can change the oil and oil filter in your car at home to cut some of the costs associated with this routine maintenance item. Whatever you do, remember to add the average car maintenance cost to your annual budget to help you prepare and save. Your maintenance schedule depends on how much you drive, how you drive, conditions in your area, and your manufacturer's recommendations. Use these tips to budget for car maintenance costs :.

The cost for car maintenance is an important factor when selecting a vehicle. Here are some more common questions about car maintenance costs :. It depends.

Vehicle maintenance costs vary based on vehicle brand and model, how much you drive and other factors. Electric cars cost less to maintain than gas powered vehicles. Overall, they require less maintenance. Higher value and luxury vehicles tend to cost the most to maintain. There are two main types — scheduled and unscheduled maintenance costs. Scheduled maintenance is doing the factor recommended maintenance at defined interval. Unscheduled maintenance are repairs to parts of the vehicle that wear down.

This includes the parts and mechanic costs for brakes, battery, tires, and wipers. Auto Insurance current. Contact Us Make A Claim. There are three main factors that will have a direct impact on the cost to maintain your vehicle : How often you drive : The amount you drive per year will have a direct impact on maintenance costs.

The more you drive, the more you will spend on maintenance and repairs. By knowing where to focus your attention when, maintaining your vehicle can and will be a cake-walk that saves you a bit of money down the line. There are plenty of myths out there when it comes to servicing your car. Our car maintenance guide will provide you with some general car maintenance tips. Well, a lot of things. Your vehicle has a lot of moving parts, and they all need to be looked after in one way or another.

Some more often than others. Vehicle maintenance is often a result of wear-and-tear, among other things. The more you drive your car, the harder it works and the faster the materials inevitably start to break down. They really depend on what your car needs in the moment and the kind of car your drive.

So here it is — a checklist of the major parts of your vehicle that need maintaining. Nothing is cut-and-dried when it comes to your vehicle. Every car is different, meaning they all have their own specific needs.

Birchwood Credit wants to give you the resources to help put you and your vehicle in a position to thrive. This is basically everything my dad never shut up about. Your vehicle literally needs to be a well-oiled machine, or else its not. Without any lubrication, the gears, pistons and cylinders operating your engine can heat up, meld together and seize up. The longer you wait to change the oil, the dirtier it will get.

Your oil filter will help keep it clean for a little while, but it can only filter out so much. Topping your engine up with fresh oil and changing out the filter every 6, kilometres will ensure a smoother ride and a healthy, longer lasting engine. The lower end of the spectrum will land you the run-of-the-mill stuff. The process of rotating your tires involves moving them from one position to another, ensuring that they wear down evenly.

Try doing this between every 5, to 7, km. If your goal is to keep your tires as evenly worn as they can be, consistency will only help you in the long run. I owned a Volkswagen Rabbit for nearly 9 years, and I can probably count the number of times I washed it on two hands. The salt and dirt it accumulated caused it to rust and it spread like a virus. Once I decided to sell it, I had to drop the price down nearly 20 per cent from its market value at the time and even then I had a hard time getting rid of it.

A car wash may not seem like an essential piece of maintenance, but it could save you a couple hundred, or even thousand, dollars down the line. Plus, your car looks good under all that dirt. Let it shine, baby! This vehicle maintenance is a little more specific and a little more pricey than anything that came previously, making it all the more important. We suggest getting ahead of them to save yourself the hassle later.

It catches all the dust and dirt that finds its way into your vehicle, making it a little less stuffy in there. Changing it every 20, to 40, km should do the trick, but if you live in a particularly dusty environment, you may have to keep a closer eye on it.

It cleans up the air you breath so driving is a little more enjoyable and safe. Your fuel filter catches all the dirt and rust particles that could be flowing through from your fuel tank. Your car needs a healthy stream of fuel travelling through the lines, and a clogged filter can block off the flow of fuel to your engine. You should consider having your mechanic check in on the fuel filter as often as you switch out your air filters.