Every car buff wishes there was a maintenance-free car – but if you’ve lived on this capitalistic planet for more than two decades, you know nothing comes for free.
That said, the cost of maintenance varies from one car to the next. If you buy a high-end European luxury car, steep maintenance costs are inevitable.
The comfort and high-performance perks that come naturally on a Bugatti or McLaren translate into high complexity and specialized components. The result is more frequent maintenance appointments and expensive repairs than your average Civic or Corolla.
It gets worse: Some of the vehicles on this list require specialized maintenance from authorized service shops, and the service charges for some of these are triple digits per hour.
If we were to list the top-most expensive cars to maintain, the first 100 slots would be filled with supercars and ultra-luxury cars. As a result, we’ve mixed things up to provide a clear perspective on luxury, performance, and everyday utility cars.
Ford Transit Wagon
There’s a big misconception that commercial utility vehicles like the Ford Transit Wagon are cheap to maintain. Most people believe the more luxurious a car is, the more expensive it is to maintain.
While that might be true, vehicles on the other side of the spectrum can also be costly. The Ford Transit Wagon, for instance, racks up about $1,163 in annual maintenance costs. The most frequently serviced components are the engine and transmission, which often call for higher labor charges due to the complexity (man-hours) of the repairs.
A Ford Transit owner on a popular forum complained of spending about $9,000 on a new transmission and converter ($495 for transmission flush). Another owner paid $4,000 on a new turbo for a car with 96,000 miles.
Chevrolet Express Cargo
Have you checked the prices on the Chevrolet Express Cargo vans lately? They have shot up, right? Well, ever since millennials started living in cars to cut rent costs after the pandemic, these work vans have become gems on wheels.
But this practical van-turned-van-life car can be pretty expensive to maintain—especially if bought used. The annual maintenance cost is about $1,137 ($11,370 in ten years), and the engine cooling and braking systems are the most frequently serviced culprits.
On the other hand, the Chevrolet Express Cargo is the ultimate van. It’s pretty reliable and durable, and better yet, parts are available everywhere in the United States.
Infiniti Q50
Japanese cars have a reputation for being cheap to maintain, but the Infiniti Q50 isn’t your ordinary car from Japan. It’s a luxury sports sedan with an above-average maintenance cost of about $1,100 annually ($11,100 over ten years).
Some of the standard parts that require frequent maintenance include the fuel pump and the Camshaft position sensor. One owner on an Infiniti forum confessed how the Infiniti Q50 almost crippled them financially, forcing them to take a $10,000 loan for repairs.
Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Van
The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Van is at the high end of the commercial or utility van segment, and with that comes higher maintenance costs. But as you may already know, this German commercial van currently does more than haul your local plumber’s tools of trade – it’s also an avid overlander or van-life car.
Unlike the basic Nissan NV Cargo Van, the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Van features complex engineering for its incomparable performance and reliability. This translates into regular maintenance and high repair costs. The annual cost of the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Van is about $1,850.
Land Rover Range Rover
If it is a European luxury SUV, it probably costs an arm and a leg to maintain. The Land Rover Range Rover, a.k.a. The Mobb Boss car in the UK, has a bad rep when it comes to maintenance.
It’s a well-known fact in the used car market that you shouldn’t touch a Range Rover with air suspension. The active suspension system costs between $1,600 and $1,800, and labor costs average about $300.
The annual maintenance cost for a Land Rover Range Rover is quite steep at $1,200, which amounts to more than $10,000 over ten years.
Cadillac DTS
Here’s the thing: The Cadillac DTS tends to be extremely cheap on the used car market. For that reason, it makes a tempting option for a luxury car (neat option for $10K, decent for $5K). But let’s be honest here, folks. All luxury cars are expensive to maintain.
According to one owner on a Cadillac forum, the DTS costs a little bit more for oil changes (7.5 quarts). It also weighs about 5,000 lbs, and you can be sure you’ll need a complete suspension overhaul at 80,000 miles.
It packs a powerful 4.6-liter engine, but it is not designed to race. Push it to its limits, and you’ll blow the head gasket. The Cadillac DTS is not the type of car to miss regular maintenance service—try that, and it’ll find a second home at your local repair shop.
Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD
The Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD gets a lot of props for being reliable and valuable. It packs enough grunt for all your towing needs, and for most owners, it offers more capability than required.
But things take a different turn regarding maintenance—it’s a massive truck, after all. It costs about $1,490 annually to maintain a Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD. One owner on a popular Silverado forum wasn’t too pleased after spending close to $4,000 on a used variant of the truck after only two months of ownership.
While most owners agree it costs a fortune to maintain the chunky Chevy truck, they are happy with its bulletproof engine and reliable service.
BMW X3
It wouldn’t take long before you stumbled into a European luxury car on this list. Trust me, we’ve saved the best for last. Any BMW is expensive to maintain and repair.
According to an X3 owner in a BMW forum, the BMW X3 costs about $1,280 annually in maintenance and about $13,000 in ten years (without a service plan). With a service plan, the cost is $2,700 for three years.
Some standard parts that frequently need maintenance include the drive belt tensioner and cabin components like the window regulators.
GMC Sierra 3500HD
There’s no arguing that the GMC Sierra 3500HD is the ultimate tow-doctor. The newer variants come with a ton of features and a luxurious interior. It might have too much chrome and cost more than the Silverado HD, but you’ll love its Zeus-like power.
Unfortunately, the GMC Sierra 3500HD is known to have transmission failure issues. According to one owner, a replacement costs about $6,000, but here’s the kicker—there is an indefinite backorder. The GMC Sierra 3500HD also costs about $1,300 annually for maintenance.
Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class
They say getting a C-Class is entry-level into the Mercedes-Benz owners club. Going for the Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class is entry-level into the Mercedes-Benz SUV club. It might be the smallest SUV from the automaker, but you’ll have earned your stripes on the greener side of the pond.
Unfortunately, all good things end there. Settling bills and crediting invoices is a personal endeavor, and for the Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class, it amounts to an annual maintenance cost of about $1,039. Other than regular oil changes, the Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class is known to have issues with crank position sensors and brakes.
A GLA owner with a unit over 100,000 miles confessed to spending over $1,000 for a regular service. The oil filter alone costs them $531.
Ford F-Series (F-250, F-350)
Pick-up truck enthusiasts love the Ford F-Series trims for one reason – they pack strong engines and have unbelievable towing and hauling capabilities. And even though their top-tier variations don’t match its biggest nemesis, the Ram–Ford buffs swear their lives on it.
But with big responsibilities come even bigger expectations, and for the Ford F-Series trucks, maintenance is crucial. For starters, this is not the kind of car to buy used.
And while the oil change service is above average, it should be the least of your worries. The F-250 and F-350 trims with high mileage sometimes require a new transmission, cams, steering column, and more.
Aston Martin Valkyrie
They say that spending rich people’s money looks wasteful until you get wealthy people’s money. But spending top-tier sports car money for annual maintenance seems a little boastful. Well, that’s what it costs to maintain an Aston Martin Valkyrie for a year – $110,000.
It’s like buying a 2024 Ford F-Series and paying for more than three years of maintenance—that should pique the interest of some truck aficionados. In three years, the Aston Martin Valkyrie will rack up more than $400,000 in maintenance costs.
Porsche 911 Turbo S
The Porsche 911 Turbo S was solely developed as a sprinter—everything else nice comes as an extra. Still, it is essential to note that while expensive to maintain and repair, the 911 Turbo was built to be sturdy and reliable.
The older a Porsche is, the more likely there will be stuff to repair. If maintenance is a problem, a used Porsche shouldn’t be on your list of must-buy cars. The annual maintenance cost for the Porsche 911 Turbo S is pegged at $2,200, which is equivalent to two years’ maintenance for the Mercedes-Benz GLA.
Ferrari F40
There is a reason why the Ferrari F40 is suitable for celebrities and the ultra-rich. This twin-turbo exotic car isn’t something you’ll see every day. And for most people, it is an elusive car they’ll only view in magazines or digitally.
Let that sink in. If it’s that rare, then there’s no chance you will get replacement parts from your local Autozone retail shop. If anything, Ferrari doesn’t sell replacement parts to individuals, only authorized Ferrari dealerships. Maintenance costs for this exotic Italian speedster are about $5,000 annually.
Koenigsegg CC850
Getting into hypercar territory is not for everyone—it also requires a chunky bank account. The Koenigsegg CC850 is one of those cars only available to the exclusive few. And for these selected few, maintenance costs are never a concern.
That said, the Koenigsegg CC850 requires extensive maintenance and service to ensure its sophisticated parts work optimally. The annual maintenance cost on this hypercar is $9,000, a thousand dollars shy of $10,000. That’s not all. The Koenigsegg CC850 wheels (carbon) need replacement every few years—they are not cheap!
Audi R8
Every car buff wants a car that turns heads and drives fast. For a few motor enthusiasts, that car is a hot rod, while for many, it is a performance luxury vehicle, like the Audi R8. Here’s the thing: It costs about $3,100 annually to maintain this German luxury performance car.
And for that, you get supercar performance powered by a 5.2-liter V10 capable of 602 hp. V10 engines require high-performance oils and frequent adjustments (valve adjustments every 15,000 miles) to make 3-second launches. Add thousands of dollars if the mileage has racked up more than 100,000 miles.
Lamborghini Murcielago
At some point, every ’90s kid’s dream car was a Lamborghini. I had my eyes on the Diablo long before the Murcielago and the Gallardo rolled out.
While the later model Lamborghinis became more reliable, they featured more sophisticated parts, further advancing the dream of owning the raging Italian bull for most car enthusiasts.
The Lamborghini Murcielago, for instance, featured a 6.2-liter V12, pushing the annual maintenance cost to $18,500. The labor costs alone are enough to handle all your domestic bills—and that’s because a Murcielago is not the kind of car to take to your local repair shop.
McLaren F1
The McLaren F1 is a car with many firsts—it was the first hypercar and, at one point, claimed the title of the fastest production car in the world, which was nearly 20 years ago. However, even with that, the McLaren F1 is a hypercar that requires extensive maintenance and service.
The annual maintenance cost for this British hypercar is more than three times that of a Koenigsegg CC850, at $30,000. You won’t get away with letting it sit in your garage as an art piece, either—the McLaren F1’s sophisticated architecture requires it to run regularly.
Bugatti Veyron
If you are looking for rocket-like speed and luxury, the Bugatti Veyron must be at the top of your list. It’s one of those supercars that have won several accolades throughout its development, placing it among the best in automotive performance.
Unfortunately, the Bugatti Veyron is as expensive to maintain as it is to purchase. It requires at least one oil change service annually, which can only be done by an Accredited auto shop. Fluid changes alone cost more than $20,000 for this supercar.
Mercedes-AMG ONE
Here’s the truth. The Mercedes-AMG ONE runs on a modified F1 engine, rev-limited at 11,000 RPMs. It sits on the thin line between hyper-performance and track cars. With that in mind, there’s no playing cheap with this hypercar.
That’s not all. The Mercedes-AMG ONE requires an engine to be built every 30,000 miles. Let’s not forget this is a detuned hybrid tech F1 engine capable of 1,063 hp.
Pagani Huayra
The Pagani Huayra is a top-tier hypercar. The stock vehicle packs a twin-turbo 6-liter V12 sourced from AMG. With that kind of firepower underneath, it makes 720 hp and 738 lb-ft of torque. Foot on the pedal, and it’ll scream from 0 to 62 mph in 3.3 seconds.
The Pagani Huayra is a marvel of automotive architecture, often translating into hefty maintenance costs. American real estate mogul and YouTuber Manny Khoshbin owns a Hermes Edition Pagani Huayra (213 miles on the odometer). According to the millionaire, regular maintenance service costs him about $8,000.
Mercedes SLR McLaren
You’ve got to love the shark-inspired design of the Mercedes SLR McLaren—the long hood, jet-inspired interior, and—drumroll…its fantastic performance. Under the hood, it runs a supercharged 5.4-liter V8 capable of 617 hp and 575 lb-ft of torque.
American realtor and real estate mogul Manny Khoshib also owns one of these bad boys. So far, he has six examples. According to the ultra-successful realtor, the cost of an oil change service and minor repairs was about $20,000.
You don’t want to leave the Mercedes SLR McLaren sitting in the garage too long—if the injectors get clogged, you’ll need to pay $30,000 in repairs.
McLaren Speedtail
The McLaren Speedtail is a special car in the hyper-performance car world. It was the first hyper-GT and was revealed in 2018. It combines a V8 engine and an electric motor, making a whopping 1,036 hp. Step on the gas pedal, and it’ll speed to 205 hp (402 kph).
Maintaining this ultra-performance hypercar isn’t cheap – it costs about $22,000 for a regular maintenance service. That’s the cost of a brand-new 2024 Hyundai Elantra.
