12 Best Cars to Buy if You Hate to Spend Money on Maintenance

The cost of a car isn’t just about how much you spend when you sign the lease or purchase it from a dealer.

Your costs can add up when you consider potential major repairs and regular maintenance to keep it running properly.

Here are the top 15 car models to consider if you want to find a low-maintenance car. Pair them with some smart car owner moves to spend less on the life of your car. 

Notes: All vehicle data comes from the car-buying resource CarEdge. A “major repair” is defined as an issue requiring $500 or more to fix.

A Mazda 3 is expected to cost $5,649 in maintenance and repair costs during the first decade of its life, which is $312 less than the industry average for popular sedan models.

The model is also 0.59% less likely to need a major repair than similar vehicles in the segment.

As a Honda Civic owner, you should plan on paying $5,620 over 10 years, which is $341 less than the industry average.

You would also have only a 15.57% chance of needing a major repair.

This German import may rely on its well-known engineering to keep it running smoothly. Maintenance and repair costs are expected to total $5,555 over 10 years.

The Golf is also 0.19% less likely to require a repair during that time than similar vehicles in the segment.

If you own a Versa, you should expect to pay $5,550 for maintenance and repairs over the first 10 years of the vehicle’s lifespan.

You should also expect a 16.43% chance that the Versa will require a major repair, which is better than its counterparts in the segment.

Expect to pay an estimated $5,436 over the first 10 years of life for a Mitsubishi Mirage G4.

You also have a 16% chance of needing a major repair on your vehicle, which is better than similar vehicles in the segment.

In the 10 years after buying a Mitsubishi Mirage, you should account for $5,135 in maintenance and repair expenses.

The Mirage will also have a 15.09% chance of requiring a major repair, which is 0.63% better than similar vehicles in the segment.

If you buy a Toyota Supra, it'll cost you about $5,107 to maintain and repair during that time.

The Supra also has a 12.57% chance of requiring a repair, which is almost 7% better than other vehicles in the segment.

You’ll only need to budget $5,106 for maintenance and repair costs over the first 10 years of owning a Honda Fit.

There’s also less than a 14.68% chance of your vehicle requiring a major repair.

The Toyota Camry has a reputation for being affordable, and that includes its maintenance and repair costs, which total around $4,455 over 10 years.

The Camry also has a low 11.89% chance of requiring a major repair during the first 10 years of the car.

Another affordable Toyota model is the Carolla, which will cost you only $4,229 in maintenance and repair costs during the first decade.

The Corolla is also less likely to need major repairs, with an 11.89% chance of requiring a repair that costs more than $500 in its first decade.

If you buy a Toyota Prius Prime, you can expect to pay $4,207 for maintenance and repairs for the first decade of its life.

The vehicle also has a low 11.22% chance of requiring a major repair, which is 4.5% better than similar vehicles.

The Toyota Prius tops the list, needing just $4,147 for maintenance and repair over its first decade. That's $1,573 less expensive than the industry standard.

The Prius also has an 11.22% chance of requiring a major repair, which is 4.5% better than similar vehicles in the segment.

If you’re buying a car on a budget, remember to consider anything you‘ll need for the vehicle on top of the initial costs.

Looking for ways to save money on car insurance can also help you save money over the life of your vehicle that you could put toward other bills or invest later.