The Electric Vehicle/Brand With The Lowest Maintenance Cost In 2024

Over the last decade, there has been an EXPLOSION of interest in the EV segment. Whether you drive a Tesla, Ford, Toyota, BMW, Porsche, or whatever else, battery-powered cars, trucks, and SUVs have swept the market by storm.

Of course, electric vehicles still only make up a fraction of the total global vehicle market, but this number has been steadily rising in the past 4-5 years. We saw EVs first become “cool” with Tesla, dropping nameplates like the Roadster, Model 3, Model S, Model X, Model Y, and most recently, the Cybertruck. This has continued to influence other car manufacturers to take a swing at building semi or fully-electric models, and we have Tesla to thank for much of that.

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However, one of the main selling points of electric cars has been their lower-than-average maintenance costs, especially regarding battery checks, general filter swaps, etc. You don’t have an engine or transmission inside an EV, which accounts for most maintenance anyway. That said, the battery of your electric car still needs a yearly inspection, and your brakes and other fluids, so that is something to remember. Whatever the case, we’re here to uncover the cheapest electric vehicle to maintain in 2024, and the answer may surprise you. Let’s jump right in!

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Tesla Is The Cheapest EV Brand To Maintain

Some exciting news coming out of a Consumer Reports annual finding regarding EV maintenance costs is that Tesla vehicles are the CHEAPEST to maintain annually and in their first ten years of driving. On average, Tesla-made vehicles cost $580 in the first 1-5 years of service, with a ten-year estimate being between $3,455 to $4,035. This puts your annual Tesla maintenance price at anywhere from $345.50 to $403.50 for each year from 1-10.

That is, if you own and drive a Model 3, Model Y, Model X, Model S, or Cybertruck. It’s also worth mentioning that Consumer Reports totals the first five years of Tesla ownership at $580 TOTAL, meaning you could be spending just over $100 annually to maintain its battery and other major systems. Tesla builds supercars minus the super expensive long-term price tags. Sounds like a win-win to us.

Tesla Is The Only Pure EV Maker In The Top Ten Cheapest Brands To Maintain

Something else we’ll add to this point is that Tesla remains the sole 100 percent electric car company to make the top ten for cheapest annual maintenance. Tesla not only takes the crown, but its electric models are all fairly easy to deal with from years one through five and six through 10.

Generally, EVs and ICEs become more expensive as they age. This is somewhat true to electric nameplates, although even then, your worst repair will be a battery swap. All electric car manufacturers have to offer an eight-year minumum battery warranty to drivers, with Tesla doing just that for its vehicles. Therefore, if your Tesla’s battery depletes to below 70 percent full charge capability, Tesla is federally required to replace the battery. This applies to the U.S. electric car shoppers.

• Model S, Model X, Cybertruck: 8 years or 150,000 miles, whichever comes first, with a minimum 70-percent retention of Battery capacity over the warranty period.
• Model 3 Rear-Wheel Drive, Model Y Rear-Wheel Drive: 8 years or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first, with a minimum 70-percent retention of Battery capacity over the warranty period.
• Model 3 Long Range, Performance, Model Y All-Wheel Drive, Long Range, Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive, Performance: Eight years or 120,000 miles, whichever comes first, with a minimum 70-percent retention of Battery capacity over the warranty period.

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The Model 3 Is Your Cheapest EV To Maintain

Now that you know the Tesla brand as a whole is the cheapest to maintain long and short-term, it’s worth discussing the cheapest vehicle in the lineup to care for. According to CarEdge, a Tesla Model 3 will cost about $3,587 for maintenance and repairs during its first 10 years of service. This comes out to roughly $358.70 annually, although lower range estimates for yearly upkeep put Model 3 at a mere $169 per 12 months.

Again, most auto repair estimates work at a sliding rate. Some drivers will see no major repairs in a decade, while an unlucky few may have more. This is why you can’t give a concrete answer as to annual Tesla maintenance. We hope all owners see ~$200 in maintenance per year, but that could be wishful thinking. It is possible, though. There’s a reason this vehicle outsells even cheaper models in its class.

The Model 3 Is Easy To Deal With, Period

Whatever your trim level, the Tesla Model 3 will be cheaper than average to maintain. Whether it is year one, five, or 10, this electric sedan is known to be less money to deal with. Because you don’t see much maintenance in the first year of driving a Model 3, your appointments at the dealer will be limited. Per Tesla’s factory scheduled maintenance recommendation, you should have the following appointments for your new vehicle:

(Data sourced from Tesla)

At the ~100,000-mile point, you may also qualify for a new battery based on charging capacity, so that is worth noting. You also want to consider upgrading to a new Tesla at the 10-year mark, as EVs are not known to last well beyond that timeframe and will likely require a new battery.

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Tesla As A Brand Sparkles

Considering the Model 3 from Tesla and the brand overall is ranked as the cheapest EV to maintain annually, this brings us to the point that Tesla is one of the better overall manufacturers on the market. You have an auto company that values quality, commitment to innovation, and decent pricing on entry-level trims. The Model 3, for instance, starts at $38,990, which for a refreshed nameplate with 272 miles, a new interior, exterior upgrades, and RWD, is decent.

Again, with Tesla, you put more money into buying your car upfront, followed by cheaper maintenance for the next 1, 5, 10, or 15 years. Each time you trust one of these vehicles, you’re making a greener, more planet and wallet-friendly decision in the long term. It’s worth the extra $$$ to start.

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A Tesla Model 3 Is A Great Choice For Low Maintenance EV Ownership In 2024

When the time comes to upgrade your EV or switch to electric driving for the first time, we recommend Tesla if low annual maintenance costs matter to you. Not only has Consumer Reports named Tesla the cheapest EV brand to maintain, but it’s also the cheapest overall.

Owning a car, whatever the powertrain/configuration, is nerve-wracking—we get it. Therefore, purchasing or leasing one that won’t cost an arm and leg to repair every six to 12 months makes a big difference. Plus, Tesla is constantly evolving and making itself more competitive, especially with the Model 3, so that’s a bonus for you.

The proof is in the pudding, folks; Tesla is a cheap manufacturer to maintain. Plain and simple.