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I once bought a used Nissan Altima for $4,000 and drove it for more than 10 years. Over the years, I did some minor repairs myself and one major engine repair (I let the mechanic take that one), but none of them broke the bank.
I saved thousands doing some of the repairs myself, but the real savings came from buying a reliable car. Unfortunately, not all vehicles are created equal in this area.
While luxury cars are often the most expensive to repair, you might be surprised to know that a certain pickup truck is the costliest to maintain.
The Dodge Ram 3500 is the most expensive to repair
According to CarEdge, the heavy-duty Dodge Ram 3500 pickup truck costs $25,844 to maintain and repair over the first 10 years of ownership. That's an average of more than $215 per month in the first decade. Not great!
The data shows a 79% chance the truck will need a major repair in the first decade, much higher than other pickup trucks. It's not cheap to insure, either. The Ram 3500's average annual auto insurance cost is about $1,989.
I've been picking on the Ram 3500, but the Porsche Cayenne is another expensive vehicle to own. CarEdge says the 10-year average maintenance costs are $20,552 -- or $1,712 annually! The Cayenne's insurance costs will also put a dent in your wallet. The average annual insurance for the SUV will set you back $2,471.
I'll stick to my boring Honda CR-V, thanks.
Auto repair and insurance costs are rising
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but both auto repair and insurance costs are on the rise. And they're not coming down anytime soon.
Car repair costs have jumped 33% over the past four years. Even more shocking, car insurance prices are up 26% from last year.
There isn't much you can do if you own a car that's expensive to repair besides sell it. But you have a lot of control over how much you pay for insurance.
Shopping around is one of the best ways to find cheaper car insurance. Consumer Reports data shows drivers are often more satisfied with their new insurance provider, too. That's a win-win!
Don't make the same mistake I did
When I first started paying for my own car insurance policy after graduating from college, I made a big mistake.
I didn't compare quotes before buying insurance.
I simply went with my parents' insurance provider and kept the same coverage. Huge mistake. I ended up paying way too much for coverage I didn't need for years.
Thankfully, I eventually got another quote and significantly lowered my insurance costs. I even bundled home and auto insurance to get a better deal.
I'm still applying that lesson years later. I recently got another quote from a different insurance provider and found I could lower my annual insurance premium by about $384. I'll be switching soon.
Whether you drive an expensive or cheap car, comparing quotes will likely help you find a better deal. And with rising vehicle repair costs, now could be a great time to switch and save money on at least one aspect of car ownership.
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