When Volkswagen first came out, it was marketed as “the people’s car”—a vehicle that every German could buy. Volkswagen vehicles, however, have maintained its “people’s vehicle” aspect, and a dash of elegance gives them a distinct position in the automotive industry.
The Porsche 911 model, which possibly has too higher a purchase price for the average person, was inspired by its most famous of all Volkswagen cars, the Volkswagen Beetle. In an average car, a Volkswagen maintenance costs comparison shows they are not too high and cost $400 to $700 per year.
Over ten years, Volkswagen owners spent less than $8,000 on repair and maintenance costs. Volkswagen models’ parts are reasonably priced and readily available, and preventative maintenance helps cut these costs further.
In our guide, you can learn Volkswagens are reliable and Volkswagens are expensive to repair. By the end, you’ll see the commonly held beliefs about the reliability of the German brand and are Volkswagens expensive to repair. (Learn How To Turn On Heater In Car)
Average Regular Maintenance Costs Comparison By Volkswagen Model
The cost of maintenance varies among Volkswagen models, although it can be pretty similar between each Volkswagen dealership. Even the same models from several years apart may have varying Volkswagen maintenance costs.
Here’s an average annual Volkswagen maintenance cost by model.
- Beetle $612
- CC $880
- Jetta $609
- Volkswagen Golf $630
- Passat $639
- Tiguan $730
The Jetta, Volkswagen Golf, Beetle, and Passat models are all in the same maintenance cost bracket, as you can see. Despite not being the most expensive car on the list above, the VW CC model has the highest Volkswagen maintenance cost.
If you go to an auto shop that isn’t a part of the dealership, not every auto shop will offer rates that fall in line for your scheduled maintenance compared to a VW dealer.
What Affects Volkswagen Maintenance Cost?
Here are some additional variables that may affect maintenance costs besides vehicle size and model:
Driving style. More cautious and responsible drivers typically experience lower scheduled maintenance costs. Your home address. You can receive much higher auto repair estimates in other states with lower maintenance costs.
The car repair shop you use. Your long-term maintenance costs may affect depending on which auto shop you go to perform routine maintenance. Because of this, you should always let a reputable mechanic work on your car.
Average Annual Repair Cost for items In Volkswagen Maintenance
Generally, you’ll find Volkswagens reliable vehicles, and the VW’s standard maintenance items are relatively similar to those of other car brands.
Depending on the model, the price range is as follows:
- Oil change: Between $128 and $154
- Tire rotation: Between $158 and $74
- Spark Plugs: Between 184 and $252
- Filters: Between $64 and $108
Replacing a damaged component in the repair shop can be more expensive on a Volkswagen than on other car brands or domestic vehicles. Still, you might never need Volkswagen repair through parts breaking. Unscheduled repairs could, however, come via an accident.
Instead of focusing on the cost of a single repair, it’s crucial to look at the maintenance costs over a period.
Why Do People Think Volkswagen Maintenance is Expensive?
For owning a Volkswagen, there are several ideas that people hold onto and think these cars are expensive to maintain. First off, the consensus is that since Volkswagens are well-built German automobiles, cost and ownership costs are high. Others believe that finding parts is difficult.
These are merely an assumption: overall, the cost of maintaining your VW is comparable to that of any other brand, even though components may occasionally cost more because of the necessity to import them. (Read What Does A Burnt Clutch Smell Like)
Are Volkswagen Parts Expensive?
While you may see some parts need importing, and why people assume they are Volkswagens expensive to fix. However, here you can see how Volkswagen reduces the total cost of ownership. Volkswagen has started initiatives to make buying a car more accessible and not overly expensive to maintain.
First, before you even make a purchase, you may evaluate the long-term maintenance costs of your target car thanks to their open after-sales and service program.
You can rapidly preview your forthcoming maintenance bill on its website using a service cost calculator, which enables you to budget your money appropriately. Volkswagen has strong warranties, recently providing a transferable four-year/50,000-mile warranty on all models manufactured in 2020 and beyond.
Repair frequency can vary on models, although there isn’t much need to have an oil change or change spark plugs above what is stated as the manufacturer’s recommended repair frequency.
How You Keep Maintenance Costs On Your Volkswagen Low?
The following actions will assist you in reducing future car maintenance costs:
Maintain Your Preventative Maintenance
If you take good care of your car, you’ll keep future repair costs to a minimum. For example, Volkswagen vehicles should typically be serviced every 10,000 miles.
The following services must be got each time you reach this milestone to maintain the warranty unless you have a used Volkswagen, and then you can keep it running trouble-free for years.
- Oil and filter change
- Tire rotation
- Airbag system inspection
- Fluid checks and replenishing
- Brake pad inspection and brake fluid condition and level
- Wiper blade inspection
The dealerships mechanic will carry out more thorough inspections in your service once you pass 20K, 60K, and 100K, which include:
- Battery inspections
- Tire inspections
- Brake system check
- Change fuel filter
- Dust and pollen filter replacement
Use Extended Warranties
When the manufacturer warranty expires, extended service contracts, often known as extended warranties, can help reduce some maintenance costs. It functions much like an insurance policy that protects against pricey repairs. Blowing a head gasket is a crucial example and could cost you around $100 rather than $1000 to fix.
If you need expensive repairs that are covered by the plan, you need to pay a small deductible rather than pay for the major repairs in full.
Have Volkswagen Repair and Service Done at a Qualified Auto Shop
You don’t need to bring your VW to a dealership for maintenance. However, working with a trustworthy mechanic licensed to handle significant Volkswagen maintenance and major repairs is always advisable.
These specialists can complete the task just as well as anyone else and for much less. To ensure your warranty isn’t void, keep track of every maintenance visit and save your receipts.
Is Volkswagen a Reliable Car Brand?
Most buyers think cars made by German-owned companies are always trustworthy. Is VW affected by this? VW typically receives an average dependability rating, with average repair costs less than reliable cars from Ford and Toyota. (Read No Brake Fluid Coming Out When Bleeding)
What are the Most Common Volkswagen Issues?
Despite being mostly reliable, VW nonetheless has issues. Here are some common problems with Volkswagens:
- Faulty timing chains.
- The check engine light may flash excessively from time to time for sensor or software reasons.
- Oil problems in older models necessitated frequent replacements. However, if you put off oil changes, newer models may also succumb to an accumulation of oil sludge.
- The collision avoidance system might pick up on inexistent objects.
- The airbag malfunction light could appear as you approach the 100k mile mark.
Used Volkswagen Maintenance Cost
Most drivers don’t purchase car-new vehicles, so how much would you have to spend to buy a used Volkswagen when the initial free maintenance period ends? Using the industry average yearly cost as a guide, you may spend $3,400 over five years. Both scheduled and unexpected repairs are included in this maintenance.
Again, maintenance expenses can differ depending on how you drive your vehicle. You can spend less if you maintain your car correctly. For example, if you frequently push your Golf or your Jetta to the limit, you might have invested more money over time.
Unscheduled Volkswagen Repair Costs
Where things can start to become challenging is repair bills. But, how you drive and care for your vehicle will determine how often and how severe repairs are.
However, even the most cautious driver occasionally needs costly repairs. Here are a few instances of what you might find in a free app.
- Volkswagen Jetta head gasket replacement: $926 to $1,218
- Volkswagen Jetta strut bearing replacement: $233 to $285
- Volkswagen Golf window switch replacement: $144 to $213
- Volkswagen Passat ignition coil repair or replacement: $295 to $638
- Volkswagen Passat timing belt: $698 to $840
Conclusion
So, how much does it cost to maintain a Volkswagen car? Not as much as you think, is the response. In the long run, VW maintenance costs are far lower than the industry standard.
Your VW won’t drain your bank account of all your money when it needs maintenance as long as you take proper care of your vehicle.
