To determine the average cost to service a car, a number of factors need to be taken into consideration including vehicle types and models, geographical location, type of services and the distance travelled. An average cost of a car service in Australia is $150 to $550.

Logbook service costs can vary depending on where you live in Australia. The average reported cost for hiring a mechanic in each different state in Australia is:

You may be wondering, how much should a car service cost? Does the location influence the price? The answer is yes – location matters. Car maintenance costs can be more expensive if you live closer to a capital city due to the higher cost of living. For example, the cost of an oil change in Sydney can cost approximately $150, while the oil change cost in Melbourne ranges from $200 to $250 with an oil filter changed too. While the averaged reported cost will give you some idea of what kind of expenses you should expect, you will still need to contact mechanics actively working in your area.

You should ask your mechanic for estimates for full car service prices before you hire them for the job, so you can have a clearer idea of what to expect for the final bill. There will be differences in price even if you’re covered by the car manufacturer and have a capped servicing arrangement.

The cost of servicing your car will depend largely on the model and make of your vehicle. Car servicing costs by make differ because certain cars require special spare part replacements, different kinds of engine oils and transmission fluids, and have specific requirements when it comes down to the scheduled servicing process.

The automotive industry has taken great strides to introduce transparency into transactions involving car servicing and repairs. To avoid the confusion of added services and forking out a considerable amount of money at the end of every service visit, read your vehicle logbook to give you guidance on the specified and recommended service requirements for your car. 

Auto manufacturers have now introduced a number of programs that help control the expenses involved in order to save their industry. One such program is the capped price and menu-based servicing; this program seeks to help you avoid unpleasant surprises at the end of the servicing when you’re presented with the bill.

Mechanic prices may vary from vehicle to vehicle. To avoid unexpected charges, ask for your mechanic to explain all of the charges at the beginning. Your mechanic should contact you prior to carrying out any additional car repairs.

The average cost of a car service in Australia is often fixed or proportionate. Fixed or proportionate mechanic prices ensure you know exactly how much you need to pay in order to keep your car in working condition and ensure all its components are well-maintained. This form of pricing adds transparency to the entire process, as the costs are explained and capped in advance, therefore you don’t need to hesitate to get your car to your mechanic for scheduled servicing and worry about the cost.

Be sure to read all of the fine print included in the process to understand what’s involved to avoid unexpected charges or surprises. Some repairs and services are only provided when they’re within the warranty period. The warranty information varies by car types and models.

Here are some general information on car warranty:

• Lifetime – Holden, Ford, Hyundai, and Mazda
• More than five years – Kia, Nissan. Skoda, Volkswagen, and Citroen
• Five years – Peugeot, Suzuki, Honda, BMW, HSV, Porsche, Jaguar, and Volvo
• Four years – Mitsubishi and Toyota
• Three years – Subaru, Mercedes-Benz, Renault, Isuzu, Opel, Audi, HSV, and Toyota

Male mechanic using a gadget to conduct a service on an SUV. | Source: Yy Auto Prestige Service

Car servicing can involve a number of repairs and processes and you don’t always need a full car service in order to keep your vehicle in good condition. As a car owner, it’s a good idea to become aware of the different kinds of services involved so you can make the right decision and understand what kind of repairs your vehicle might need. Here’s a brief introduction to what you need to know about the services your vehicle will need:

Major car services – Major car services usually involve a full tune-up of your vehicle and the service provider will carefully inspect all aspects of it to ensure all components are working as they’re supposed to. Most of the major car servicing plans will include:

• Engine oil testing and replacement
• Filters testing and replacement
• Spark plugs repair and replacement
• Brakes inspection
• Flush and change of fluids in the car
• Road test, safety inspection
• Battery test, general checks, and other such services

Minor car services– Minor services usually involve surface inspections and small repairs like checking the car tyres and filling them with air, replacing the fluid in the radiator, and other similar services. These minor repairs and services are usually included in long-term service contracts. These services don’t require replacing spare parts, special tools, or time-consuming repairs, which is why minor car service costs tend to be quicker and more affordable.

Dealership vs. private mechanics – This is one of the most commonly asked questions when it comes to repairs and servicing. Dealerships often attempt to convince vehicle owners that getting their cars serviced and repaired at local garages can void the warranty, but that’s not true. As long as you get your car serviced by a licensed and certified technician, you shouldn’t have any problems with the warranty. However, dealership repairs can also be quite affordable thanks to capped price programs. The repairs and servicing at a dealership is subsidised by the manufacturers under the capped programs so getting your car served by the dealership is almost as affordable a private garage. 

The older your car is, the more expensive it is to maintain, so you can expect your car service prices to rise based on the number of additional kilometres you’ve travelled in it. The list below illustrates how much you’ll have to pay for a two-year-old vehicle based on the number of kilometres travelled. This should give you some idea about the amount you will have to spend in order to maintain your vehicle:

The average car services cost in Australia change and fluctuate with market conditions and can vary from company to company, so it’s important to get the latest price list from your dealership or local garage. That will give you a good idea of what kind of expenses you can expect for your car servicing. You can expect the highest-priced services at 60,000, 120,000, 180,000, 240,000, 300,000, and 360,000 kilometres.

Here’s a brief look at the costs you can expect from the top 10 manufacturers:

1. Toyota servicing cost – $140 Toyota was the first to recognise the problem of servicing costs and introduce a good fixed price program. Based on the car you purchase and the years of ownership, the annual service cost can range from $280 and $720.
2. Mazda servicing cost – $296 – $387 Owners of Mazda cars simply need to go to the website, type the VIN number and the website will tell you exactly how much you need to spend on the service.
3. Holden capped price servicing cost  – $239 – $299 It is applicable to every vehicle that was ever sold in Australia so regardless of Holden model you own, you can apply for the servicing subsidy and check the service cost on their website.
4. Hyundai servicing cost – $189 – $500 – This company offers lifetime capped-price service programs and provides the ability to prepay your maintenance costs or pay it in monthly installments to lessen the financial burden of the service.
5. Mitsubishi servicing cost – $230 – $600 – This company offers capped price services for the first five years, after which you need to pay for the service out of your own pocket.
6. Ford servicing cost – $255 – $365 Ford offers a Service Price Promise and will allow you to calculate service costs on their online platform. The price quotes by this calculator are valid for 30 days and you won’t have to pay anything over that amount.
7. Nissan servicing cost – $262 – $517 This manufacturer offers Service Certainty program for six years of ownership but it doesn’t cover brake fluid. The price certainly isn’t conditional upon whether you get annual servicing done so you will receive the concessions even if you haven’t serviced your car in the past.
8. Volkswagen servicing cost – $405 VW offers service concessions similar to Nissan so you have a capped price for all cars sold for the first six services, which usually amounts to the first six years of ownership.
9. Subaru servicing cost – $299 – $528 The capped price program covers the first 75,000kms for all cars except the BRZ range. For the latter, you’re only covered for 60,000kms.
10. Honda servicing cost– $259 – $297 Honda’s website provides a base price cap for the first five years of servicing. You can add prices for other repairs and service required like dust filters, spark plugs, etc.

All popular car manufacturing brands in Australia offer some capped price servicing program and the prices vary from one brand to the next. For a more detailed assessment, it’s recommended to visit the manufacturer’s website to get more information.

Find out more about what other car services or repairs you may need. With real Oneflare customer quotes and costing data, read on to calculate the average cost to expect to keep your car up and running. 

Car Air Conditioner

With the harsh Australian heat, it’s a necessity to have a car air conditioner to stay comfortable while driving. But what does it cost to repair or regas your air conditioner when something goes wrong? 

Clutch

As a manual driver, it’s essential to have your clutch well maintained. What are the costs for a cable adjustment, repair or full clutch replacement? 

Detailing

Bring your car back to life with a cut, polish, and restoration treatment. Car detailing can transform the interior and the exterior of your car and can bring up the value of your car. 

Engine

Is it time to replace or repair your engine? Are you aware of the symptoms such as oil leaks and the engine light displaying?

Timing Belt

A timing belt integral part of the internal combustion engine and is one of the most expensive services a mechanic can offer. Neglecting your timing belt maintenance can cause your car repair cost to surge. Understand what signs to look out for and costs to expect for your car.

Window Tinting

Wanting to minimise the glare or add more privacy during your drives? Window tinting can be the answer. Get cost estimates of what to expect to tint your car windows and understand the legal window tinting percentage (VLT) in your state. 

Wheel Alignment 

Have you recently drove into a pothole or hit the kerb harder than you expected? It might be time for a wheel alignment. A wheel alignment is important to ensure that your wheels are parallel and that your vehicle is safe and roadworthy. 

Windscreen Repair

Can your windscreen chip be repaired or is the crack too large and need to be replaced? Whether your windscreen can be repaired or need to be replaced, depends on whether the damage is inside your critical vision area or not.

* The cost data is based on Oneflare and third-party sources