Want to cut your car ownership costs?
Don’t. Spend that money on maintenance.
The truth is, car maintenance is one of the best investments anyone can make in their vehicle.
Here’s the real deal…
Avoiding scheduled maintenance doesn’t save money. It costs thousands.
Car maintenance is going up — by 43.6% from January 2019 to January 2025 to be exact. However, when scheduled maintenance is avoided or problems are ignored, the hit to the wallet is orders of magnitude higher.
And guess what? Keeping a car in tip top shape isn’t just better for the budget, it’s great for the environment, too. Most companies, like Caliber’s sustainability commitment recognize that regular maintenance leads to better fuel economy, less emissions, and extends the life of vehicles.
Long story short, it’s clear that the importance of car maintenance should be at the forefront of every driver’s mind. Let’s look at the exact numbers and how routine car maintenance ends up putting money back in pockets.
Why Prevention Beats Procrastination Every Time
Let’s look at the numbers. For every $1 spent on preventive maintenance, $5 will be saved later down the road.
And it’s not just a claim, studies have shown that companies that budget for and do preventive maintenance rather than just react to issues have costs that are 12% to 18% lower as a result.
To put it another way…
If engine oil isn’t changed, which costs $30 at most, soon enough there will be a $4,000 to $10,000 engine replacement. A $150 brake pad replacement becomes a rotor, caliper, and thousands of dollars of damage.
Suddenly the importance of car maintenance becomes clear. Changing oil, filters, and doing routine fluid checks avoid those catastrophic failures that empty bank accounts.
But it doesn’t stop there…
Routine car maintenance means a higher resale value for cars. Well maintained cars that have proof of regular service come with a big premium when it’s time to sell or trade in.
The Hidden Costs of Skipping Maintenance
According to the AAA, vehicle owners pay an average of $1,452 per year in maintenance and repairs if they drive 15,000 miles. But that figure is the total spend on maintenance and repairs, both scheduled and emergency.
Dig deeper and something interesting emerges…
Cars that have regular maintenance have far less spend on “repair” costs and the majority of that category’s budget goes toward pre-planned, predictable maintenance instead of surprise repairs.
In fact, here’s what happens when maintenance is skipped:
Warranties are lost. Most warranties require proof of regular maintenance. If service intervals are skipped the manufacturer is off the hook for expensive repairs.
Little problems become big problems. A minor transmission fluid leak becomes a full transmission replacement. A squeaky brake pad turns into a warped rotor and damaged caliper.
Fuel economy drops. Dirty filters, old spark plugs, and neglected systems make engines work harder to get the power needed, using more fuel and costing more money at the pump.
The importance of car maintenance goes beyond just avoiding large repairs. It’s also about not letting one little neglected part take down the rest.
Smart Maintenance Strategies That Pay Off
Maintenance isn’t all created equal. Some are more critical to vehicle performance, while some are less important.
Focus on these value add maintenance items:
Oil changes are the single most important service that can be performed. Oil lubricates moving parts, keeps things cool, and flushes away contaminants that wear down engines. Oil changes by themselves, done on schedule can extend the life of engines by hundreds of thousands of miles.
Brake maintenance is another huge money saver. Brake pads cost a tiny fraction of new rotors, calipers, brake lines, etc. Plus, good brakes keep people safe and prevent legal trouble from an accident.
Tire maintenance seems like a no-brainer, but it’s also one of the easiest ways to save money on cars. Correctly inflated, rotated, and aligned tires last far longer, improve fuel economy, and prevent blowouts that can cause accidents or strand drivers on the side of the road.
Timing matters as well. The reason manufacturers have maintenance schedules is because they know best when things should be serviced. Following that schedule is the perfect mix of not over-maintaining while also not under-maintaining.
BONUS: Combine services to save even more. Every time someone goes to the shop they’re paying labor fees. Instead of separate trips for oil change, tire rotation, filter replacements, and fluid checks combine services to save on labor costs and to also keep cars out of the shop less.
When to DIY vs Professional Service
DIY maintenance vs pro services, not all maintenance is equal in that respect as well. Some things are DIY friendly while others need a trained pro.
DIY-Friendly Maintenance:
Fluid checks and top-offs can be done by anyone. Modern cars have easy access to brake fluid, coolant, power steering fluid, windshield washer fluid, and more.
Air filters require no tools and take less than five minutes in most cars. Plus a $15 DIY air filter changes works just as well as a $50 shop installed one.
Windshield wipers are also super simple. Most vehicles have a clip design making it easy to remove and replace.
Leave These to the Pros:
Working on brakes, power steering, and suspension systems should be done by pros. Brake systems in particular need specialized tools and a trained mechanic.
Transmission services should be done by pros as well. That’s because the wrong fluid or incorrect procedure can lead to a damaged transmission.
Timing, sensors, and electrical work are other services best left to the pros. Modern cars have complex computer systems that need professional diagnostic tools and knowledge.
The importance of car maintenance is knowing limitations. Mess up a DIY job and it can be even more expensive to get a pro to fix the mistake.
Building Your Maintenance Budget
Smart money people budget for maintenance and repairs before the fact. If the maintenance schedule is followed and there’s diligence about sticking to that timeline, then budget at least $50 per month to stay on top of things.
In fact, to be more precise, track actual costs for an entire 12-month period. This will give an accurate baseline of how much vehicles really need. Newer cars will require less maintenance while older vehicles need more regular service.
Seasonal maintenance is also a good idea. Do some work on cooling systems before summer and batteries before winter to prevent emergency repairs that always seem to cost more.
Shop around but don’t always go for the cheapest price. Some cheap shops are great but some of them create more problems than they fix. Paying a little more for a quality shop will often save money in the long term.
As can be seen, the importance of car maintenance is that it’s a financial tool that lets people budget, plan and stay in control. Instead of throwing money away when emergency repairs are needed, plan for those expenses.
Finishing Strong
Routine maintenance is the last thing that makes a car sexy. But let’s be honest. What makes a car sexy is knowing no one will be the person stranded on the side of the highway blowing smoke because they skimped on maintenance.
Car maintenance is the exact opposite of an unplanned repair. It’s an investment in continued reliability, safety, and most importantly, avoiding expensive and stressful surprise repairs.
Start today. Pick up the owner’s manual, schedule overdue services, and make a point to stay on schedule. Budgets will thank you.