Toyota Maintenance Cost Guide
Thanks in part to the company’s included maintenance coverage for new vehicles, Toyota maintenance costs across all models are low compared to the industry average.
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Motor1 Reviews Team Take:
- Toyota has low average maintenance costs at just $441 per year, and many maintenance services are free for owners during the first two years of owning a new Toyota vehicle.
- Toyota customers can purchase additional maintenance and warranty coverage directly from the dealer.
- Third party extended warranties may help owners cover repair costs as Toyotas enter the high mileages they’re known for.
On average, drivers spend about $441 per year on Toyota maintenance costs, according to RepairPal. That’s on the low end compared to many brands. This may be in part because the first two years of maintenance on new vehicles are free under the company’s ToyotaCare coverage. Even so, Toyotas are some of the most affordable vehicles to maintain.
Below, we talk about the cost of owning a Toyota, including average repair and maintenance costs. While repairing a Toyota can be cheaper than other brands, you could still come across a $1,000 or $2,000 repair down the road.
Adding coverage through an extended car warranty can help even out repair costs and preserve your monthly budget. We’ve researched the best extended car warranty providers, so you can compare our top picks.
Toyota Free Scheduled Maintenance
New Toyota vehicles come with free maintenance for a limited time through ToyotaCare. That means drivers pay nothing on covered service for the first 2 years or 25,000 miles on new Toyota ownership. The free coverage is transferable to secondary owners as long as the time or mileage limit hasn’t run out. When you visit a dealer for work during this period, you’ll get genuine Toyota parts and certified technicians. ToyotaCare covers:
- Multipoint inspections
- Engine oil and filter changes
- Tire rotations
- Fluid level adjustments
ToyotaCare also includes 2 years/unlimited miles of 24-hour roadside assistance for peace of mind. This covers:
- Towing
- Emergency fuel delivery
- Battery jump-start
- Winching
- Spare tire installation
- Lockout assistance
How Much Does Toyota Maintenance Cost?
Toyota maintenance is free for the first 2 years or 25,000 miles. After that, most maintenance visits cost between $100 and $200. Larger services, for example at 30,000 and 60,000 miles, can cost between $300 and $600 depending on what needs to be done.
General Toyota Maintenance Costs
Outside of the free coverage period, you’ll have to pick up the tab on scheduled and unscheduled car maintenance. Scheduled maintenance includes any work that Toyota recommends should be done at specific intervals, like engine oil and oil filter changes, tire rotation, and fluid level adjustments.
Unscheduled maintenance is the replacement of items or systems that wear down over time, like brake pads and windshield wipers. Here are some costs you might find at a maintenance service visit:
| Repair/Service | Cost |
|---|---|
| Oil change | $131 to $145 |
| Wheel alignment | $138 to $174 |
| Brake pad replacement | $259 to $300 |
| Wheel replacement | $847 to $858 |
| Headlight switch replacement | $163 to $189 |
Costs can vary depending on your car and where you go to get things fixed. Going to a Toyota dealer will cost a little more than going to an independent shop. Toyotas are reliable cars and easy to fix. Any certified repair shop can get the parts and do the work. It’s just a matter of finding a company you trust.
What Is Toyota’s Recommended Maintenance Schedule?
Toyota’s maintenance plan recommends that you get your car serviced every six months or 5,000 miles, whichever comes first. If you use conventional oil, you’ll have an oil change at each service. If you use synthetic oil, you only need an oil change at every other service.You’ll typically also get a tire rotation and fluid inspection during scheduled maintenance, but some services will include more items.
What You’ll Pay
Toyota’s 25,000-mile service shouldn’t cost anything if you bring it in on time – the Toyota maintenance plan is free for the first two years or 25,000 miles. But if you drive infrequently, your car might not have that many miles when the two-year time limit runs out.
If that’s the case, you could pay between $75 and $150 for a 25,000-mile service, depending on what needs to be done and where you go. A 30,000-mile service is usually more involved. A 30,000-mile service for a Corolla can cost between $503 and $602, according to RepairPal.
Common Toyota Repair Costs
Another large part of owning a vehicle is dealing with repairs. Unfortunately, the perfect car that doesn’t break down doesn’t exist. When you buy a new or used car, the sticker price isn’t all that you’ll pay to own it.
Fortunately, Toyota’s repair costs are low compared to other brands. The Japanese manufacturer is focused on making reliable vehicles that can be repaired easily, which is good for the wallet.
Here are some common repairs for a Toyota Camry (via RepairPal):
| Repair | Cost |
|---|---|
| Door lock actuator replacement | $437 to $532 |
| Ignition switch replacement | $339 to $379 |
| Traction control switch replacement | $147 to $154 |
The RAV4 is another hugely popular model. Here are some repairs for a Toyota RAV4:
| Repair | Cost |
|---|---|
| Brake pad replacement | $273 to $326 |
| Timing chain tensioner replacement | $554 to $662 |
| Airbag occupant sensor replacement | $512 to $533 |
Lastly, here are some repairs you might find with a Toyota Prius:
| Repair | Cost |
|---|---|
| Mass airflow sensor replacement | $210 to $264 |
| Water pump replacement | $849 to $1,010 |
| Air conditioning condenser replacement | $695 to $871 |
Many of these repairs happen further down the line, once the car is past 100,000 or even 150,000 miles. Toyotas are long-lasting vehicles, but you do need to put some money in to keep them in good shape.
Comparing Toyota Maintenance Costs Across Models
For comparison data, we used Edmunds’ Cost of Car Ownership calculator. Maintenance costs are model-specific, but the calculator averages out repair costs per brand. The calculator also assumes that people are driving 15,000 miles per year. Your maintenance costs could be lower if you drive fewer miles. Keep in mind that the costs also may vary by ZIP code.
During the first few years of Toyota ownership, you don’t have to pay much for maintenance costs. Below, we’ll look at ownership costs if you were to buy a 2018 model today in Raleigh, North Carolina. The maintenance and repair costs are estimates of what you would pay for the next five years, from 2023 to 2028. At that time, your car would be 10 years old. Many Toyota drivers can keep their cars well beyond the 10-year mark if they stay on top of regular maintenance.
| Model | 5-Year Maintenance Cost |
|---|---|
| 2018 Toyota Prius | $5,275 |
| 2018 Toyota Corolla | $4,679 |
| 2018 Toyota Camry | $4,602 |
| 2018 Toyota Highlander | $5,714 |
| 2018 Toyota RAV4 | $6,038 |
According to this data, the RAV4 costs the most to maintain out of these models. Toyota maintenance costs are of course tied to the age of the car. For example, if you bought a 2021 Toyota RAV4 today, you’d pay about $5,191 in maintenance for the first five years.
Comparing Toyota Maintenance Costs To Other Brands
Now let’s take a look at the wider market. Here, we’re going to compare the Toyota Camry with a few popular alternatives of the same age from Honda, Nissan, Ford, and Chevrolet.
| Model | 5-Year Maintenance Cost |
|---|---|
| 2018 Toyota Camry | $4,602 |
| 2018 Honda Accord | $4,694 |
| 2018 Nissan Altima | $4,990 |
| 2018 Ford Taurus | $6,021 |
| 2018 Chevy Malibu | $4,745 |
Out of the cars we compared above, the Ford Focus had the highest maintenance cost. All of these midsize sedans are priced in the same ballpark and have similar maintenance costs, overall.
Here’s how these brands stack up in average annual maintenance and repair costs, according to RepairPal:
At the end of the day, it seems like Toyota is one of the safest bets you can make.
Why Extend Coverage For A Toyota?
Toyotas are known as some of the longest lasting vehicles in the industry. With other cars, you might need to extend coverage the minute the factory warranty runs out to cover anticipated repairs. Still, while Toyotas may need less immediate repair coverage, their long life means you can anticipate needing to cover repair services for quite some time.
Toyota’s factory warranty is average and ends after 3 years/36,000 miles (5 years/60,000 miles for the powertrain). At that point, Corollas and Camrys are still going strong. It’s not uncommon to drive a Toyota past 200,000 miles, and many make it to 300,000. Toyota offers extended coverage through its own vehicle service contracts, but the plans only cover up to 125,000 miles. Going beyond the Toyota dealership, third-party vehicle service contracts can offer comparable plans that last up to 200,000 or 250,000 miles.
Extended warranties don’t pay for your Toyota maintenance schedule, but they do cover unexpected breakdowns and mechanical failure. The best providers offer multiple levels of coverage. Plans can range from basic powertrain coverage to bumper-to-bumper exclusionary coverage.
What Toyota Customers Say
In 2023, we used Pollfish to survey 1,000 consumers nationwide who had purchased extended warranties from their car’s manufacturer. Out of the total, 187 respondents had purchased a Toyota extended warranty.
The majority of Toyota drivers were satisfied with the coverage. Here are some of their positive comments:
- “I’m completely satisfied with my warranty. If anything happens I take it to my dealership and they handle all the issues.”
- “I am somewhat satisfied with the warranty. It has paid for most of the repairs for my vehicle and all I have to do is pay the deductible.”
- “I am extremely satisfied with the warranty coverage that I have purchased as it makes me feel less stressed since I have costs covered.”
On the other hand, a few people were disappointed in Toyota’s extended coverage:
- “I’m very dissatisfied. Getting an existing brake issue took over a year and I had to fight a lot with them.”
- “I’m not super satisfied just because they overprice the warranty but it doesn’t fix anything for you.”
Best Third-Party Options For Extended Coverage
As a Toyota driver, you get the best options from third-party companies. Providers like to cover Toyotas because they are reliable. When breakdowns happen, it’s easy to get repairs from any shop, too. Extended protection plans for Toyotas typically cost less than plans for domestic or European brands. Here are a few more things you can find from our recommended providers:
- These third-party companies pay repair shops directly.
- Coverage can be added after factory warranties expire.
- Many plans come with perks like rental coverage and roadside assistance.
- Third-party plans are cheaper and more flexible than dealership options.
Our team polled 1,000 extended warranty customers on their experiences. About 52 percent purchased bumper-to-bumper extended warranties, and most people paid between $1,500 and $3,000 total for coverage. Prices are based on your car, but it’s easy to get a quote.
Toyota Maintenance Costs: FAQ
Below are frequently asked questions about Toyota maintenance costs:
How much does Toyota scheduled maintenance cost?
Toyota maintenance is free for the first 2 years or 25,000 miles. After that, most maintenance visits cost between $100 and $200. Larger services, for example at 30,000 and 60,000 miles, can cost between $300 and $600 depending on what needs to be done.
What does a Toyota maintenance service include?
Standard maintenance service includes an oil change, tire rotation, fluid check, and general inspection. At different intervals, service might include fixing the alignment or replacing brake pads, bulbs, hoses, belts, and other wear and tear items.
How much does it cost for an oil change at Toyota?
Oil changes can cost between $131 and $145 – prices from Toyota service centers will be on the higher end of that spectrum. Synthetic oil can cost twice as much as conventional, but you only need to change it half as often.
Is maintenance on a Toyota expensive?
Maintenance on a Toyota is affordable compared to the industry average. Toyota owners pay $441 per year according to RepairPal, while the industry average is $652 per year.
Is it expensive to own a Toyota?
Toyotas are some of the least expensive cars to own. Toyota owners pay about 32% less in maintenance over time compared to the industry average, according to RepairPal.
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.
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