RealCost Tool
Car Maintenance Cost Calculator UK
Car maintenance costs are easy to underestimate because servicing, MOTs, tyres and repairs do not always arrive neatly every month.
Use this calculator to estimate yearly, monthly, per-mile and ownership-period maintenance costs based on mileage, servicing, MOT, tyres and repair allowance.
Estimate servicing costs
Use service cost and service interval to estimate how much servicing may cost each year.
Plan for tyres and MOT
Include MOT cost, tyre set cost and tyre lifespan so regular maintenance is not forgotten.
Add a repair buffer
Used and older cars can need unexpected repairs, so include a realistic yearly allowance.
Calculate your car maintenance costs
Enter your annual mileage, servicing, MOT, tyre and repair estimates to calculate yearly, monthly, per-mile and ownership-period maintenance costs.
This calculator gives an estimate. Real maintenance costs can vary depending on car age, condition, mileage, service history, garage prices, driving style and unexpected repairs.
Maintenance costs are easy to miss
Maintenance rarely feels like a fixed monthly bill. A service may arrive once a year, tyres may be needed unexpectedly, and MOT advisories can quickly become repairs.
RealCost note: This calculator separates servicing, MOT, tyres and repairs instead of asking for one vague maintenance number. For the full ownership picture, use the Car Cost Calculator UK. If you are buying used, also check the Used Car Buying Checklist UK before committing.
What the calculator includes
The calculator uses practical inputs that help turn uneven maintenance bills into a clearer budget.
Annual mileage
Enter how many miles you expect to drive each year.
Service cost each time
Enter the typical cost of one service for the car.
Service interval
Enter how many miles the car normally travels between services.
MOT cost
Enter the MOT test cost or a basic MOT allowance.
Tyre set cost
Enter the cost of replacing a full set of tyres.
Tyre lifespan
Enter how many miles you expect a tyre set to last.
Unexpected repairs allowance
Add a yearly buffer for unexpected repairs, especially on older, used or higher-mileage cars.
Years of ownership
Enter roughly how long you expect to keep the car.
What the results tell you
The results show maintenance cost across the year, by month, per mile and across the ownership period.
Services per year
Estimated number of services needed each year based on mileage and service interval.
Service cost per year
Estimated yearly servicing cost based on your mileage and service interval.
Tyre cost per year
Estimated yearly tyre cost based on mileage and tyre lifespan.
Maintenance cost per year
Estimated yearly cost for servicing, MOT, tyres and repair allowance.
Maintenance cost per month
Estimated monthly maintenance cost for easier budgeting.
Maintenance cost per mile
Estimated maintenance cost for each mile driven.
Total maintenance over ownership
Estimated total maintenance cost over the number of years entered.
Repairs buffer over ownership
The total repair allowance across the ownership period.
Example maintenance result
This example uses 10,000 miles per year, £250 service cost, £55 MOT, £400 tyre set cost, 20,000-mile tyre lifespan, £300 yearly repair allowance, 3 years of ownership and a 10,000-mile service interval.
Annual mileage
10,000
Service cost
£250
Tyre set cost
£400
Repair allowance
£300/year
Services per year
1
Service cost per year
£250
Tyre cost per year
£200
Yearly maintenance
£805
Monthly maintenance
£67.08
Cost per mile
£0.08
Total over 3 years
£2,415
Repair buffer total
£900
What this means: In this example, maintenance is about £67 per month before fuel, insurance, tax and depreciation are included. The repair buffer stops the estimate being unrealistically optimistic.
Small car vs large premium car
The purchase price does not always tell you what the car will cost to maintain.
Small simple car
- Lower tyre costs
- Cheaper routine servicing
- Less complex parts
- Often easier to budget for
Large premium car
- More expensive tyres
- Higher labour and parts costs
- More electronics and complexity
- Can be costly if bought cheaply used
What affects car maintenance costs?
Two cars can have very different maintenance costs even if they cost a similar amount to buy.
More miles usually means more servicing, tyres, brakes and wear-related repairs.
Older cars may depreciate less, but they can need more maintenance and repairs.
SUVs, premium cars and performance models often have higher maintenance costs.
A well-maintained car can be cheaper long term than a neglected cheap car.
Large wheels and specialist tyres can raise replacement costs quickly.
Complex engines, gearboxes, electronics and suspension can increase repair risk.
When this calculator is most useful
Use it when maintenance could change whether a car is worth buying, keeping or replacing.
How to reduce car maintenance costs
These checks can help stop small ownership costs turning into expensive surprises.
Repair your current car or replace it?
If maintenance costs are rising, compare the repair pattern against the cost of changing cars.
Keeping the car may make sense if
- The car is otherwise reliable
- The repair is a one-off cost
- You know the car’s history
- Replacement cars are expensive
Replacing the car may make sense if
- Repairs are becoming frequent
- The car is unreliable
- MOT advisories keep returning
- Maintenance is more than the car is worth
Before replacing: Use the Used Car Buying Checklist UK so you do not swap one expensive problem for another.
Maintenance is not the full cost
Use these calculators next to see whether the car still makes sense after other ownership costs are included.
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What to calculate next
Use these tools to connect maintenance to the wider car ownership decision.
Car Cost Calculator UK
Estimate full ownership costs including maintenance and running costs.
Car Depreciation Calculator UK
Check whether value loss is bigger than maintenance cost.
Car Insurance Cost Calculator UK
Add insurance into the true monthly ownership cost.
Car Rent vs Buy Calculator UK
Compare renting or subscribing against buying and maintaining a car.
Related maintenance and used-car guides
Use these guides when maintenance risk is part of the car-buying decision.
Used Car Buying Checklist UK
Check a used car before buying so you avoid expensive surprises.
Cheapest Used Cars to Run UK
Compare used-car choices where total running costs matter.
How to Reduce Car Running Costs UK
Cut fuel, insurance, maintenance and ownership costs.