While the "Useful Lifespan" of a vehicle will vary greatly from one model to the next, and even one owner to the next, we have determined that twelve years is the most appropriate timeframe which will yield us good, usable data - and that any data beyond that timeframe becomes more dispersed, and ultimately less reliable. Moreover, maintenance costs beyond that timeframe become significantly more varied, as a vehicle owner's care of a particular vehicle will greatly impact its value, and ongoing maintenance costs. We are very much hopeful, however, that your car or truck will last well beyond twelve years, and that it gets you to where you want to go.
We aggregate and analyze millions of automotive data points from a variety of the industry's leading data providers. The insights and information on this page represent the overall averages of the combined costs of vehicle ownership. This information should be used as a general guide, as your individual results may vary significantly from that which is shown. Our mission is to provide car buyers with the resources they need to make informed purchase decisions. To learn more, see our FAQs.