Luxury cars can be a thrill to own and drive, from their elevated design to their high-performance engines to their posh finishes. They cost more than your basic set of wheels, so it’s likely understandable that they generally have high maintenance costs. You can spend thousands of dollars maintaining an Audi, BMW, Jaguar, Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, or any other luxury car brand.
Below, you’ll learn the average maintenance cost for luxury vehicles, plus which makes and models have the cheapest and most expensive maintenance costs. This can help you understand what charges may await you if you decide to splash out on a high-end car. Plus, you’ll learn how to finance those costs.
Key Points
• Luxury cars typically have significant 10-year maintenance costs, with the current average approaching $13,000.
• Bentley has the highest 10-year maintenance cost at $36,522.
• Tesla Model 3 has the lowest 10-year maintenance cost at $3,257.
• Cash, credit cards, and personal loans can cover maintenance expenses.
• Refinancing may reduce monthly payments and could also free up equity in a car to pay for maintenance costs.
What Is the Average Maintenance Cost for a Luxury Car?
The average 10-year maintenance cost for a luxury car is almost $13,000, according to an analysis of data on CarEdge.com, an automotive research and vehicle listings marketplace.
CarEdge documented 10-year maintenance costs for more than 200 unique car makes and models and found that overall, Tesla had the cheapest maintenance cost at $4,287. Bentley, meanwhile, had the most expensive maintenance cost at $36,522.
Which Luxury Car Has the Cheapest Maintenance Costs?
These five luxury car brands have the lowest maintenance expenses, according to CarEdge’s rankings and data as of 2025:
1. Tesla
Tesla vehicle models have an average $4,287 in maintenance and repair costs during their first 10 years of service. Tesla is classified as a low-maintenance luxury car brand in CarEdge’s rankings. Electric cars tend to be popular with millennials, according to car ownership in the U.S. surveys.
2. Lexus
Lexus car models share an average $7,130 maintenance and repair cost during their first 10 years of service. Lexus is a luxury brand division of Toyota Motor Corporation.
3. Genesis
Genesis is the luxury brand made by Hyundai Motor Company. The costs for maintenance were calculated to be $7,626 over the first 10 years.
4. Acura
Acura car models share an average $8,566 maintenance and repair costs during their first 10 years of service. Acura is a luxury brand of Honda Motor Co.
5. Alfa Romeo
Alfa Romeo car models share an average of $8,733 in maintenance and repair costs during their first 10 years of service. Known for its Italian heritage, Alfa Romeo is one of 14 brands owned by Stellantis, a multinational automotive company.
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Which Luxury Car Is Most Expensive To Maintain?
The most expensive car repairs can involve repairs to the engine or transmission. These five luxury car brands have the highest maintenance costs, according to CarEdge’s rankings and data as of 2025:
1. Bentley
Bentley car models share an average $36,522 in maintenance and repair costs during their first 10 years of service, according to CarEdge’s findings. Bentley makes ultra-premium cars, so this intel may not come as a surprise.
2. Land Rover
Land Rover car models share an average of $18,304 in maintenance and repair costs during their first 10 years of service. Land Rover is a brand of Jaguar Land Rover Automotive PLC, a manufacturer of luxury vehicles.
3. BMW
BMW car models share an average of $15,991 in maintenance and repair costs during their first 10 years of service. BMW is the flagship brand of BMW Group, a manufacturer of premium vehicles.
4. Jaguar
Jaguar car models share an average of $15,662 in maintenance and repair costs during their first 10 years of service. Jaguar is a brand of Jaguar Land Rover Automotive PLC.
5. Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz car models share an average of $12,962 in maintenance and repair costs during their first 10 years of service. Mercedes-Benz is a brand of the Mercedes-Benz Group, a luxury automaker.
Pros and Cons of Owning a Luxury Car
The table below highlights some of the pros and cons of owning a luxury car:
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Pros:
• Can feature leather-trimmed seats for maximum comfort
• Can feature superior powertrain and technology for optimal performance
• Can provide a wider range of safety features compared with economy cars
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Cons:
• Can be expensive to maintain
• Auto insurance can be costly
• May require diesel or premium-grade fuel, which is more costly than regular-grade gasoline
Luxury Car Maintenance vs Regular Car Maintenance Costs
When comparing the costs of luxury car maintenance vs. non-luxury car maintenance, here are some points to consider:
• Luxury cars are generally more expensive to maintain
• Electric cars have the lowest maintenance costs compared with hybrid and conventional vehicles
• European luxury cars generally cost more to maintain than American or Asian luxury cars
• Non-luxury American, Japanese, and Korean car models generally have the lowest 10-year maintenance costs overall
European luxury brands, including Land Rover, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Jaguar, have the highest 10-year maintenance costs, according to Consumer Reports.
Cars generally lose value over time, but luxury cars may experience a faster rate of car depreciation than non-luxury cars.
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Luxury Car Maintenance Cost Comparison
The Tesla Model 3 is the luxury car with the lowest maintenance cost, according to CarEdge. Luxury car maintenance costs can vary by make and model. Using CarEdge data, here is a table comparing the maintenance costs of luxury cars from cheapest to most expensive:
| Rank | Model | 10-year maintenance cost |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tesla Model 3 | $3,257 |
| 2 | Tesla Model S | $3,974 |
| 3 | Tesla Model Y | $3,994 |
| 4 | Lexus RZ | $4,595 |
| 5 | Genesis Electrified G80 | $4,630 |
| 6 | Tesla Model X | $4,847 |
| 7 | Audi Q4 Sportback e-tron | $5,318 |
| 8 | Tesla Cybertruck | $5,359 |
| 9 | Genesis GV60 | $5,526 |
| 10 | Lexus IS | $5,782 |
| 11 | Lexus IS 300 | $5,864 |
| 12 | Lexus IS 350 | $5,901 |
| 13 | Lexus ES 250 | $5,941 |
| 14 | Lexus ES 300h | $5,972 |
| 15 | Acura ZDX | $6,152 |
| 16 | Lexus RC 300 | $6,256 |
| 17 | Lexus RC 350 | $6,306 |
| 18 | Audi e-tron GT | $6,490 |
| 19 | Volvo EX30 | $6,593 |
| 20 | Lexus LS 500 | $6,676 |
| 21 | Mercedes-Benz EQE 350 Sedan | $6,734 |
| 22 | Mercedes-Benz EQE 500 Sedan | $6,894 |
| 23 | Audi S e-tron GT | $6,912 |
| 24 | Audi Q4 e-tron | $7,027 |
| 25 | Cadillac OPTIQ | $7,095 |
Financing and maintaining a luxury car may come at a steep cost. Below, learn some of the key ways to pay for luxury car maintenance.
Cash or Debit
You could use cash or a debit card to pay for luxury car maintenance if you have enough money or sufficient funds in your checking or savings account. Bankrolling the maintenance costs can deplete your savings, but the upside to using cash is it completes a transaction without relying on a creditor.
Credit Cards
You can use credit cards to pay for luxury car maintenance. Some credit cards provide cash back on all purchases, but interest charges can be high, especially if you’re only making minimum payments. You can avoid credit card interest charges on new purchases by paying your statement balance in full each billing cycle. That, however, may not be possible if you’re purchasing a car that costs into the six figures.
Personal Loans
Here’s another option for financing your luxury car’s maintenance costs: You can take out personal loans. These products offer options, such as unsecured loan or a secured one, with your vehicle potentially serving as collateral. Personal loans provide borrowers with a lump sum of money and a payment schedule for repaying the loan over a set term.
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Refinancing Your Luxury Car
Auto refinancing can provide some relief if you need a lower monthly payment on your luxury car loan. Refinancing pays off your original car loan with a new loan agreement.
Typically, the goal for refinancing a car loan is to snag a lower interest rate and lower monthly payment. (Refinancing for a longer term may lower your monthlies but increase your total interest costs over the life of the loan.)
When To Refinance a Car
Your personal circumstances can help you determine whether and when to refinance a car. Refinancing may make sense if you have built your credit score and may qualify for a lower interest rate. Or perhaps, due to economic factors, rates have fallen enough that refinancing is a wise move.
Also, if you have equity in your car and are looking to pull some money out of that (say, to pay for maintenance, you might look into a cash-out refinance.
Pros and Cons of Auto Refinancing
There are some pros and cons of auto refinancing.
• Refinancing may lower your monthly charges and the amount of interest you pay over the life of the loan.
• However, refinancing could wind up costing you more in interest over time if you extend the loan’s term. Also, when you apply for a new car loan, the hard credit pull that’s usually performed can cause your credit score to drop several points temporarily.
Refinancing Your Luxury Car
If you refinance your luxury car, it’s smart to shop around and check rates. Consider the APR, or annual percentage rate, you qualify for, vs. simply the interest rate. That APR will give you a better idea of the true cost of the loan, since fees are factored in.
Once you’ve compared auto loans available from banks, credit unions, and online lenders, and decided which option is the best fit, you can move ahead with your application.
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The Takeaway
Luxury cars can be a major source of driving enjoyment and pride, but these vehicles are generally expensive to buy and keep up. Maintenance costs can average around $13,000 over a 10-year period. If you’re thinking about buying one of these cars or refinancing your current loan, it’s wise to shop around.
If you’re seeking auto loan refinancing, SoFi is here to support you. On SoFi’s marketplace, you can shop and compare financing options for your car in minutes.
FAQ
How much is the maintenance cost for luxury cars?
The maintenance cost can vary depending on the make and model of the luxury car. These maintenance expenses can range from several thousand dollars to more than $30,000 over a 10-year period, according to an analysis by CarEdge.com, with an average of around $13,000.
Which of the luxury cars is cheapest to maintain?
The Tesla Model 3 has the cheapest 10-year maintenance cost at $3,257 in 2025, according to CarEdge, which classifies the Model 3 as a luxury auto. The vehicle is made by Tesla Inc., a manufacturer of fully electric vehicles.
Which luxury car is the most expensive to maintain?
Bentleys are the most expensive luxury car to maintain, with 10-year costs totaling more than $30,000 on average. These are very pricey cars to begin with, considered one of the most costly brands on the market.
Photo credit: iStock/bluecinema
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