You found the used car. The price looks fair, the miles check out, and the seller seems honest.
What that number won't tell you is how much you'll hand over to a mechanic every year after you drive it home, and that gap can run into the thousands depending on the badge on the hood.
How Much Car Maintenance Actually Costs
It depends on which study you use, and the studies don't agree.
AAA pegged 2024 spending on maintenance, repair and tires at 10.13 cents per mile, which works out to roughly $1,520 a year assuming 15,000 miles driven.
ConsumerAffairs landed at $1,013 a year using inflation-adjusted Bureau of Labor Statistics data across 31 brands; an annual average, not a mileage rate.
CarEdge tracks 10-year accumulated repair costs by brand, which captures the long tail of aging components but can't be divided by 10 and treated as "annual," since costs tend to climb as cars get older.
RepairPal publishes annual frequency-weighted estimates that factor in how often a model actually breaks down, not just what repairs cost when it does.
Each source uses different units and methods. What they agree on: costs swing widely by make, and even a modest annual gap compounds significantly over a decade of ownership.
What Actually Determines Your Repair Costs
It comes down to two things: how much the parts cost, and how familiar nearby independent shops are with the car.
The second factor is harder to measure. A mechanic who's replaced 50 Corolla water pumps will diagnose yours faster and cheaper than one who rarely touches them. High-volume cars just tend to get better service at lower labor rates, though it varies by region.
Cheapest Car Brands to Maintain: What the Data Shows
CarEdge tracks accumulated repair costs across major mainstream brands over a 10-year span, so read these as long-run ownership costs, not an annual budget.
Toyota: $5,470, well below the popular-brand average
Volkswagen: $6,764
Honda: $6,799
Mitsubishi: $6,822
Mazda: $7,381
Consumer Reports' 2025 survey uses self-reported owner costs and lands on the same names at the top: Toyota, Tesla, Lincoln and Buick. Two different methods, same conclusion.
One real caveat: brand averages hide model-level variance. A brand can rank cheap overall while one engine or transmission year drives costs well above that average. Always check the specific model and year you're buying, not just the badge.
Why Where a Car Is Built Affects Repair Costs
Japanese brands like Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Mazda and Subaru have decades of high U.S. sales volume behind them, so parts are easy to source and most independent shops know the cars well.
European brands split into two groups: Volkswagen sits much closer to Japanese brands on parts cost, while BMW, Audi and Mercedes routinely run two to three times more for equivalent parts with sourcing that varies by region.
American brands sit in the middle. The Ford F-150 and Chevy Silverado have some of the largest aftermarket ecosystems in the country, though costs climb on body repair for aluminum-panel models, not routine maintenance.
Which Specific Models Have the Cheapest Parts
The Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic are among the highest-volume nameplates ever sold in the U.S., and that's exactly why they're cars with the cheapest parts. OEM and aftermarket suppliers produce components for them at scale, which keeps prices down and availability high.
If you're more truck- or off-road-minded, the Toyota Tacoma and Jeep Wrangler get the same benefit in their segment, backed by a large aftermarket for lift kits, tires and replacement panels.
What This Means for Buyers and Sellers
Price a few common repair parts for the specific model on RockAuto or a brand forum before you commit; parts prices only, labor not included. Stick with established OEM-grade suppliers like Denso and ACDelco over unfamiliar names.
Search owner forums for known problem years; a three-year-old thread about a specific transmission will tell you more than any brand ranking. Budget $50 to $100 a month plus an emergency fund, since even a cheap brand can throw an expensive year.
If you're selling, this cuts both ways. Cheapest cars to repair tend to attract more buyers and hold value better, since low running costs alongside reliability, demand and depreciation all factor into what buyers will pay.
None of this replaces a pre-purchase inspection. But you'll negotiate better, budget smarter and skip more headaches if you do this homework before you show up.
