Gone are the days when you used to roll into a dealership and be shocked at the cost of a simple service. Now, pre-paid, capped, and disclosed amounts are all part of the purchasing process for a brand-new car.
However, with most cars requiring a scheduled service at least once per year, the cost of ownership can quickly add up, and it certainly cannot be ignored.
Servicing is imperative to maintain your warranty, resale value and even just longevity of the vehicle.
We have compiled a list of the cheapest cars to service in Australia for 2025 to ensure you aren’t stung at the mechanics.
What is the cheapest car to service in Australia?
| Brand | Cheapest average annual service cost (over the first five years) |
| Tesla | No service intervals |
| Genesis | $0 |
| Honda | $199 |
| Toyota | $250 |
| Chery | $280 |
How much does it cost to service a Genesis?
Hyundai’s luxury subsidiary brand Genesis has long held the title as one of the cheapest cars to service in Australia.
Since the brand’s introduction to the Australian market in 2019, all brand-new Genesis vehicles come with five years or 130,000km worth of free complimentary servicing.
That extends to all Genesis vehicles, whether electric or otherwise, and remains with the vehicle even after resale.
To find out more about the free servicing and the terms and conditions surrounding it, head here.
How much does it cost to service a Honda?
Honda offers some of the cheapest new cars to service in Australia with its capped-price service guarantee.
If you purchased a Honda on or after 1 July 2021, your first five service visits will cost just $199 each.
Included in this are engine oil and oil filter replacements, testing and inspecting all components around the car, brake fluid, tyre rotation, and air filter replacement.
Honda also states that the capped price is transferable when purchasing a used car.
"The five low-price servicing is attached to the vehicle, and any remaining services (up to 66 months/55,000km) will be available to any subsequent owners," the brand explains.
To find out more about Honda's capped-price servicing scheme, head here.
How much does it cost to service a Toyota?
Toyota is another brand that keeps servicing low across the board with full disclosure of pricing through its online tool.
The Japanese brand caps the price of your first five services, with the little Yaris coming in the cheapest at just $250, while the large RAV4 is capped at $270 through one of the hundreds of Toyota dealerships around the country.
Most Toyota models fall under the $300 mark for the first five services, with a few exceptions to the rule, such as the large LandCruiser 300 Series at $420 per service and the HiLux at $305.
By having your Toyota serviced at a Toyota dealership, you will also extend the warranty of your driveline (engine, gearbox and differential) from five years to seven.
To find out more about the capped-priced servicing plans for specific Toyota models, head here.
How much does it cost to service a Chery?
Chery has offered very competitive capped price servicing since mid-2023, now bringing its growing fleet, made up mostly of SUVs, into the top five of the cheapest cars to service in Australia.
Most of its range, including the Tiggo 7, Tiggo 8, Omoda 5, and C5, all fall under $300 for the first five services, with prices ranging from $280 to $299, depending on the model. Better yet, the sixth and seventh services are also priced capped with only a slight increase in price of less than $100 over the first five.
Its Super Hybrid range does come in at $349 for two of its first five services, but with most of the range costing under $1500 for the first five years, it’s impressively competitive.
To find out more regarding the service costs of Chery vehicles, head here.
What brand has the longest capped price servicing?
Mitsubishi may not have the cheapest cars to service out of the dealership. Still, the brand offers an industry-leading 10 years of capped price servicing which is worth considering if you are looking for a Nused car built beyond 1 October 2020.
If you jump into an Outlander, you can expect the first five services to cost $320 for three and $370 for two, while major services, which are usually beyond the capped price timeline of most brands, cost $680.
The brand’s larger cars, such as the Triton and Pajero Sport, don’t exceed the $1000 mark for their major services, which is very competitive compared to large vehicles from other brands.
To find out more regarding the service costs of Mitsubishi vehicles, head here.
How much does it cost to service an EV?
While electric cars do still need to be serviced, many brands offer free servicing for their alternatively powered vehicles, while others do cost for servicing to battery coolant, brake fluid and other consumables.
What’s included and not included in a scheduled service?
Each service interval has a different set of work that needs to be carried out to maintain the longevity of your vehicle. The following is what you can expect from ICE vehicle service intervals:
Every service interval
Every second or third service interval
Every third or fourth service interval
What isn’t included
Zane Dobie comes from a background of motorcycle journalism, working for notable titles such as Australian Motorcycle News Magazine, Just Bikes and BikeReview. Despite his fresh age, Zane brings a lifetime of racing and hands-on experience. His passion now resides on four wheels as an avid car collector, restorer, drift car pilot and weekend go-kart racer.
