Every motorist should factor maintenance costs into their car budget as unforeseen services and repairs are inescapable expenses during the lifetime of vehicle ownership.
According to Naked Insurance, the amount that you should put away for this is dependent on the value of the vehicle, and equals roughly 2% of the car’s sticker price every year.
Using this as a base for calculations, if you’re planning to buy one of the country’s 10 best-selling cars, this is what you should bank on spending on maintenance every 12 months:
| Model | Price range | Yearly maintenance budget | Monthly maintenance budget |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota Hilux | R356,600 to R1,005,000 | R7,132-R20,100 | R594-R1,675 |
| VW Polo Vivo | R259,400 to R346,900 | R5,188-R6,938 | R432-R578 |
| Ford Ranger | R494,400 to R1,184,100 | R9,888-R23,682 | R824-R1,974 |
| Toyota Corolla Cross | R408,400 to R543,700 | R8,168-R10,874 | R681-R906 |
| Suzuki Swift | R205,900 to R455,900 | R4,118-R9,118 | R343-R760 |
| Toyota Starlet | R252,100 to R339,000 | R5,042-R6,780 | R420-R565 |
| Isuzu D-Max | R442,800 to R1,159,900 | R8,856-R23,198 | R738-R1,933 |
| VW Polo | R348,200 to R543,600 | R6,964-R10,872 | R580-R906 |
| Toyota Fortuner | R673,100 to R944,900 | R13,462-R18,898 | R1,122-R1,575 |
| Nissan NP200 | R234,000 to R253,800 | R4,680-R5,076 | R390-R423 |
You may not be spending this amount every month, but odds are there will be some sort of maintenance expense during the year that isn’t covered by a service plan – for example, tyres and brakes – that will require a large portion of your annual upkeep budget.
Car service vs Car maintenance
Car service and maintenance are often referred to as the same thing but there exists an important distinction between the two.
A car service is a systematic procedure that usually takes place once per year and aims to ensure that all the vehicle’s mechanical components are functioning as they should.
During a service, a professional mechanic will check and where necessary, replace standard parts such as oil filters, brake pads, spark plugs, and consumables; and this will be done at set intervals dictated by the manufacturer.
Periodic services are usually covered by a service plan if you buy a car new, but if it’s pre-owned, you may have to pay for them yourself if the original after-sales agreement has already expired.
Maintenance, on the other hand, encompasses the replacement of wear-and-tear items that a normal service does not cover, and like a service plan, if your vehicle does not come with a maintenance contract, you’ll have to shoulder the cost.
As such, car maintenance includes the fitment of components such as new tyres, windshield wipers, and mechanical parts that are not contained in the service plan.
Loading ...
