How much should I budget for car maintenance?

AAA's 2025 average for a new car is about 11 cents a mile, or roughly $1,656 a year at 15,000 miles. Budget more for older cars and add known big jobs.

Does car maintenance cost more as cars age?

Generally yes. Wear items and repairs increase with age and mileage, so many owners budget more each year after warranty expires.

What is the average car maintenance cost per mile?

AAA's 2025 study estimates 11.04 cents per mile for maintenance, repair and tires on an average new car.

Are dealer services more expensive?

Often, though not always. Independent shops can follow the same manufacturer schedule; keep receipts to protect your warranty.

How can I lower maintenance costs?

Follow the manual's schedule, compare quotes, do simple DIY jobs, keep tires inflated, and fix small issues early.

Car Maintenance Cost Calculator (2026) / CarO

Written by Muneeb Rana · Last updated 21 October 2026

Quick answer: A car maintenance cost calculator multiplies your annual miles by a per-mile maintenance rate. AAA's 2025 study puts maintenance, repair and tires at about 11.04 cents a mile for new cars, roughly $1,656 a year at 15,000 miles. Older cars usually cost more, so the calculator lets you add an age factor and a repair buffer.

TL;DR

Annual miles × per-mile rate = yearly maintenance budget.
Add a buffer for older cars and big scheduled items.
Track real spending to refine your rate.

This car maintenance cost calculator gives you a realistic yearly budget for servicing, repairs and tires. It starts from AAA's published per-mile average and lets you adjust for your car's age and any big items due soon, such as a timing belt or new tires.

How to use the car maintenance cost calculator

Enter your annual mileage (or use the US average of about 13,700 miles).
Choose the car's age band: 0-3, 4-7, 8-12 or 13+ years.
Add any known big jobs due this year, such as tires or a timing belt, with your quote.
Read the yearly and monthly budget.
Compare it with what you actually spent last year in your expense log.

How the car maintenance cost calculator works

base      = annual_miles * 0.1104      (AAA 2025, new car)
age_factor: 0-3 yrs 1.0 | 4-7 yrs 1.3 | 8-12 yrs 1.6 | 13+ yrs 1.9   (editable assumptions)
budget    = base * age_factor + known_jobs
monthly   = budget / 12

The age factors are adjustable planning assumptions, not published figures; they reflect that wear items and repairs increase as cars age.

Worked example

A 9-year-old car driven 12,000 miles a year: base 12,000 × $0.1104 = $1,325; × 1.6 = $2,120; plus a $700 tire quote = $2,820 a year, or $235 a month to set aside.

What maintenance costs include

Routine servicing (oil, filters, fluids), wear parts (brakes, wipers, batteries), tires, and unplanned repairs. AAA's figure includes all three. Use the maintenance schedule tool to see which big items are due at your mileage, and the per-mileage pages, such as the 100,000 mile service.

How to spend less

Follow the manufacturer's schedule rather than shop add-ons; compare itemized quotes; do simple jobs like air filters and wipers yourself (car maintenance for beginners); and fix small problems early. AAA's maintenance myths guide lists common unnecessary spends.

Know your real number

Log every service and repair in CarO's car expense tracker and repair log. After a year you'll have your own per-mile rate. For everything else, see the cost of car ownership calculator.

Download CarO free on the App Store or Google Play. Free with ads; optional in-app purchases.

Sources

AAA: Your Driving Costs 2025 fact sheet: newsroom.aaa.com (accessed 21 October 2026)
AAA: Estimate Vehicle Ownership Costs: www.aaa.com (accessed 21 October 2026)
AAA: Debunking Common Myths About Car Maintenance: www.aaa.com (accessed 21 October 2026)
FHWA: Our Nation's Highways 2026, Drivers: www.fhwa.dot.gov (accessed 21 October 2026)

Disclaimer: CarO and this website give general car-care information, not professional advice. Maintenance intervals and specifications vary by vehicle, so always follow your owner's manual and a qualified mechanic. Mileage and cost figures are estimates; check local tax rules before using any log for deductions.

Car Maintenance Cost Calculator