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Audi Maintenance Cost Guide

Before purchasing a car, it’s important to research how much maintenance will cost and how to save on unscheduled repairs.

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By:
Brogan Woodburn
By: Brogan Woodburn Senior Writer

Brogan is a Motor1.com Senior Writer based in Central Oregon. He produces in-depth auto product guides on topics spanning from auto warranties and insurance to tips on how to sell a car.

Last Updated 01/15/2024

Motor1 Reviews Team Take:

  • According to RepairPal, the average annual maintenance and repair cost for an Audi is $987 – well above the industry average of $652 across all brands.
  • Through the Audi Care plan, you can prepay for routine maintenance in 10,000-mile increments all the way up to 80,000.
  • Audi did not perform well in 2023 J.D. Power studies for reliability or initial quality.
Endurance
4.6
Industry Standing: 4.3/5.0
Coverage: 4.9/5.0
Cost: 4.6/5.0
Transparency: 4.8/5.0
Customer Service: 4.3/5.0
idée Endurance is our top pick for extended warranties.
  • Best Coverage
  • Maximum Mileage: Up to 200,000 miles
  • Money-Back Guarantee: 30 days for full refund
  • Longest Term: 8 years of coverage
  • Coverage Options: 6 plans including maintenance option
  • Discounts: $300 same-day signup discount, $250 shopping voucher, and others
Plan coverage includes Endurance Elite perks™
Exclusionary plan One-year membership for free
Powertrain plan Tire repair and replacement
Maintenance coverage with Endurance Advantage Key fob replacement
Roadside assistance Total loss protection
Towing Collision discount
Rental car $250 rewards voucher
Trip interruption coverage Endurance Protect app

Audi recommends that all Audi vehicles receive minor maintenance service every 10,000 miles and standard maintenance service every 20,000 miles. According to RepairPal, the cost of a 10,000-mile service for an Audi Q5 is between $213 and $240. For the 20,000-mile service, the price range goes up to between $488 and $579. As Audi is a European luxury brand, parts and labor tend to cost more.

Of course, it’s more than the factory-recommended maintenance plan that keeps your Audi off the road. The average annual maintenance and repair cost for Audi vehicles according to RepairPal is $987, which is well above the average of $652 across all auto brands. One way to anticipate and avoid the cost of mechanical breakdowns is to purchase one of the best extended car warranties.


Audi Maintenance Cost And Schedule

The Audi maintenance schedule may differ from model to model, but is largely the same for each type of Audi. The chart below describes the factory-recommended maintenance schedule for an Audi Q5.

Service IntervalRecommended Audi Services
Every 10,000 milesMinor maintenance service: brake pad check, engine oil and oil filter replacement, multi-point inspection, reset service reminder displace, check and record completeness of tire repair kit
Every 20,000 milesStandard maintenance service: chassis inspection, brake system inspection, lubricate door hinge, check fluid levels, change oil and oil filter, engine inspection, lighting inspection, front and rear axle suspension, headlights adjustment, multi-point inspection, tire inspection, check underbody, replace wiper blades (if necessary)
Every 2 years or 20,000 milesDust and pollen filter replacement
Every 2 yearsBrake fluid change
Every 40,000 milesReplace spark plugs
Every 6 years or 40,000 milesChange S-Tronic transmission fluid
Every 60,000 milesReplace air filter

The likely cost for these Audi Q5 maintenance services, according to RepairPal, is detailed below:

Maintenance ServiceAudi Maintenance Cost
10,000-mile service$213 to $240
20,000-mile service$488 to $579
30,000-mile service$213 to $240
40,000-mile service$585 to $692
50,000-mile service$213 to $240
60,000-mile service$835 to $964

Audi Maintenance Cost: Should You Prepay?

One way to help finance your Audi maintenance cost is to purchase a prepaid maintenance plan. The Audi dealership offers Audi Care, which guarantees the use of trained technicians using only genuine Audi parts for necessary replacements.

A prepaid maintenance plan protects against the cost of inflation and may be slightly cheaper in the long run. Plans are available to provide Audi servicing for the following intervals:

  • 10,000 miles/20,000 miles/30,000 miles/40,000 miles
  • 30,000 miles/40,000 miles
  • 40,000 miles/50,000 miles
  • 50,000 miles/60,000 miles
  • 60,000 miles/70,000 miles
  • 70,000 miles/80,000 miles

Note that available maintenance intervals may depend on your vehicle model year.

The cost of these contracts may vary by the dealership, but a plan is likely to cost between $800 and $1,300 depending on your Audi model and which maintenance intervals you select. These contracts are not transferable and cannot be canceled.


Are Audis Reliable?

Apart from routine maintenance, you should also factor in unexpected breakdowns when budgeting for Audi maintenance costs. Although it’s impossible to predict when certain parts will break down on your vehicle, to understand the full cost of Audi ownership, you should at least consider common Audi issues as well as Audi reliability. Whether you go to a dealer or another repair shop, repairs tend to cost a bit more on an Audi since it’s a luxury car.

To assess reliability, our review team turns to RepairPal, a well-regarded cost-estimation site. RepairPal ranks car brands for reliability based on the average annual repair cost, the frequency of unexpected repairs, and the probability that a needed repair is considered “severe.” A severe repair is any repair that costs more than three times the average annual repair cost across all models.

Audi vehicles have a RepairPal reliability rating of 3.0 out of 5.0, which ranks the automaker 28th out of the 32 brands surveyed. A detailed breakdown of Audi reliability can be seen below:

Audi AverageIndustry Average
Average Annual Repair Cost*$987$652
Frequency of Repairs0.8 times per year0.4 times per year
Probability of Needed Repair Being Severe13 percent12 percent

*Includes regular maintenance services and mechanical breakdown repairs.

The average annual Audi repair cost is relatively high, largely because Audis experience unexpected issues at a rate roughly double that of the average vehicle. While needed repairs aren’t much more likely than average to be severe, even common Audi repairs can be costly. The following chart shows some typical Audi issues and estimated costs.

Audi’s Performance in J.D. Power Studies

Audi didn’t perform well in either the J.D. Power 2023 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study or the J.D. Power 2023 U.S. Initial Quality Study. The automaker ranked 30th out of 33 brands in the initial quality study and 29th out of 31 brands in the reliability study. That means Audi drivers experience a higher-than-average number of issues both early in ownership and three years after their vehicle purchases.


Audi Extended Warranty Protection

A prepaid maintenance plan helps cover scheduled Audi maintenance costs, but it will not cover unexpected breakdowns. If you want to prepay for part repairs, one way to do so is with a warranty. All new Audi vehicles come with a 4-year/50,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty. Once this coverage expires, customers must purchase an extended warranty if they want to continue protection.

An Audi extended warranty can be purchased from the dealership, which lengthens bumper-to-bumper coverage up to 10 years and 150,000 miles. Drivers might also consider purchasing an extended warranty from an independent auto warranty company.

In January 2024, we surveyed 220 drivers from high-income households who had purchased an extended warranty from an auto manufacturer. Audi was represented by 20 respondents in the survey. Below are a few quotes from these Audi extended warranty holders on their experiences filing a claim:

  • “I submitted a claim about maintenance services and they gave good services.”
  • “Yes it was an easy and successful experience.”
  • “I had electric problems and had to file a claim 3 times.”

Third-party extended warranties offer a number of benefits over a manufacturer’s extended warranty. Plans from warranty companies are often less expensive, can be purchased at any time, come with benefits like roadside assistance and rental car reimbursement, and offer contract lengths much higher than 150,000 miles. Some extended warranty companies also have maintenance plans to cover regularly scheduled maintenance.


Our Recommendations For Extended Car Warranties

If you’re looking to plan for Audi maintenance costs and repair costs with an extended car warranty, it’s a good idea to shop around and compare providers. Below our recommendations of the most reputable extended car warranty companies in the industry.

Bar graph depicting the four most popular extended auto warranty companies, as reported by respondents in our 2023 customer survey.

Endurance

Based on our research, Endurance has the best coverage options of any provider in the industry. Customers can choose from six plans that range from simple powertrain coverage to full bumper-to-bumper warranty protection — and the provider offers maintenance coverage. The EnduranceAdvantage plan pays for mechanical repairs as well as services like oil changes and brake pad replacements, so you can handle all of your Audi maintenance costs and repairs under one contract.

Endurance has competitive prices for extended warranty contracts, and term lengths can extend as high as 8 years or 200,000+ miles. We received the following terms for an Endurance bumper-to-bumper warranty on a 2017 Honda CR-V with 45,000 miles:

Plan NameSupreme
Term Length5 years / 100,000 miles
Monthly Cost$114.00 for 30 months
Down Payment$300.00
Total Cost$3,420.00
Deductible$100.00

For more information, read our Endurance warranty review.

Carchex

Carchex is known for its exceptional customer service and coverage offerings for high-mileage vehicles. In addition to a high number of positive Carchex reviews, the company has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and has a host of industry partnerships. Carchex is endorsed by Kelley Blue Book, Edmunds.com, and RepairPal, among others.

Carchex contracts are also competitively priced. We received the terms below for bumper-to-bumper coverage on a 2017 Honda CR-V with 45,000 miles:

Plan NameTitanium
Term Length6 years / 125,000 miles
Monthly Cost$182.28 for 18 months
Down PaymentFirst month’s payment
Total Cost$3,281.04
Deductible$100.00

Audi Maintenance Costs: FAQ

Here are some commonly asked questions about Audi maintenance costs:

Are Audis more expensive to maintain?

Audis are expensive cars to maintain. According to RepairPal, the average annual Audi repair cost is $987. This is much higher than the average across all brands, which is $652. Audi’s regular maintenance costs are also likely to be a bit higher than most brands because Audis are luxury vehicles that use expensive specialty parts.

Do Audis last long?

Nearly any vehicle, including an Audi, can last for many years if properly maintained. Audi drivers have reported keeping their vehicles for 150,000 miles and beyond.

Does Audi have free maintenance?

Audi vehicles do not come with free maintenance. However, there are Audi prepaid maintenance plans that customers can purchase. Some Audi dealers might offer to include vehicle maintenance coverage for free.


Methodology

In an effort to provide accurate and unbiased information to consumers, our expert review team collects data from dozens of extended auto warranty companies to formulate rankings of the best providers. Companies receive a score in each of the following categories, as well as an overall weighted score out of 5.0 stars.

  • Industry Standing: Warranty providers with a history of strong business practices and endorsements from experts receive the highest scores in this category.
  • Coverage: This rating is based on types of extended warranty plans available, coverage terms, and added benefits like roadside assistance.
  • Cost: Our research team reviews sample quotes for a variety of plans and vehicles. Companies with lower prices per year of coverage receive the best scores.
  • Transparency: This score takes into account contract transparency and the availability of a money-back guarantee.
  • Customer Service: We comb through customer reviews and perform our own shopper analysis to get a sense of the responsiveness and helpfulness of each warranty company.

*Data accurate at time of publication.