Autoblog and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this article.The general consensus is that old cars are expensive to maintain, and while they can certainly cost more to look after than a new car, we wanted to find out exactly how much more. After all, maintenance expenses form a significant portion of total vehicle ownership costs, and at some point, it must surely be better to just buy a new vehicle than keep pouring money into a tired old car.We looked into the difference between the maintenance costs of cars in the first five years versus the 6-10-year period and uncovered some interesting trends that may influence your next car purchase. All the data below was sourced from Consumer Reports as it provides a reliable benchmark for these costs. CR is a trusted source because it conducts unbiased, large-scale annual auto surveys that analyze real-world repair and maintenance records across thousands of vehicle owners.Maintenance Costs when Your Car Is NewValvolineThose lucky enough to be able to afford a new car benefit from a manufacturer warranty, and in some cases, even a complimentary maintenance period. The warranties tend to cover most unforeseen issues for at least 3 to 5 years of a new vehicle's life, and in most cases servicing amounts to simple low-cost things like oil changes.AdvertisementAdvertisementThis all goes a long way to keeping maintenance costs low, and the latest CR survey of 29 brands showed the 5-year average for new car maintenance to be just $,1850. That's just $370 each year.Maintenance Costs Between 6 and 10 yearsMake and ModelAverage 6–10-year maintenance costsBuick$4,100Lincoln$4,700Toyota$4,700Tesla$5,105Lexus$5,600Subaru$5,870BMW$9,300Porsche$12,950Land Rover$13,900Once a vehicle passes the 5-year mark, maintenance and repair expenses can increase substantially. This cost spike occurs because wear-and-tear components will need to be replaced, and depending on the annual mileages, this can include tires, shocks, brake pads and discs, as well as more frequent fluid changes. Vehicles with low reliability levels also tend to suffer here, as the factory warranty falls away and any unplanned maintenance and servicing will be borne by the owner.The average figure across all 29 brands surveyed is $6,311 over 5 years, or $1262 each year. But while new car maintenance prices are focused in a relatively narrow band, the figures for older vehicles can vary greatly. More affordable and value-focused brands like Buick, Mazda, Toyota, and Hyundai keep the 6–10-year maintenance costs relatively low, compared to luxury brands like Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, Audi.Lincoln stands out as one domestic brand that manages to combine luxury with low running costs, with a 6-10-year average of $4,700. Compare that to the $9,300 figure over the same period for Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz. Porsche and Land Rover models cost an average of $12,950 and $13,900 respectively to maintain between 6 and 10 years.Should You Buy New or Used?Earl Lee/AutoblogView the 2 images of this gallery on the original articleOwnership PeriodMaintenance CostsOver 5 yearsAverage DepreciationOver 5 yearsTotalsNew–5 Years$1,850$25,000$26,8506–10 Years Old$6,311$5,000$11,311Depreciation figures based on a new car value of $50,000AdvertisementAdvertisementBuying new gives access to the latest safety and tech features, plus the short-term peace of mind provided by warranties and low initial service bills. However, there is one major downside that can often negate any maintenance cost savings, and that is the massive depreciation that new cars suffer. As a rough average, the typical new vehicle can lose up to 50% of its value in its first five years. So, if you paid $50,000 (the current average price of a new car) for your new car, in five years it will be worth $25,000. Compare that to the $4,461 extra an older car will cost to maintain over five years.VantageAuto/Bring a TrailerUsed cars lose value as well, and the average over the 6–10-year mark is around the 20% figure. So, that 5 year old $25,000 car will be worth $20,000 in year 10. Maintenance costs also escalate, and driving style, mileage and vehicle brand all have a big impact on what you can expect to pay. A catastrophic engine or electronic failure is always a possibility, but these are rare occurrences that influence online sentiment more than the average figures across a fleet of cars. What makes the big difference in terms of running costs, though, is the rate at which your vehicle depreciates.The table above shows the average depreciation and maintenance figures for a $50,000 vehicle in its first and second half decade. While costs like insurance, and fuel are not included here, the massive saving buy going used is clear to see. As the maintenance costs may rise even further as the vehicle heads into its second decade, it may become untenable to keep it running. But in the time-frame evaluated here, it is more cost-effective to buy used.On more reliable brands that hold their value well, a new vehicle lose less of its initial value, but it will also be less expensive to maintain as it gets older, so, unless you absolutely have to have a new car, the additional maintenance costs of a used vehicle are often more than worth it.AdvertisementAdvertisementThis story was originally published by Autoblog on Sep 1, 2026, where it first appeared in the Features section. Add Autoblog as a Preferred Source by clicking here.