When budgeting for a new Hyundai, you should prepare to pay more than just the vehicle’s sticker price. Factory scheduled maintenance is one expense you’ll pay for each year – but how much does Hyundai maintenance cost per year?
In this article, we’ll explain average Hyundai maintenance costs in detail, as well as the manufacturer’s recommended service schedule and pre-paid maintenance plan. We’ll also go over ways to lower the cost of your Hyundai ownership by purchasing an extended car warranty.
Average Annual Hyundai Maintenance Cost
The average Hyundai maintenance cost is $468 per year, according to RepairPal. This is much lower than the industry-wide average of $652, which RepairPal calculates by evaluating 32 car brands. These costs not only reflect routine maintenance services like oil changes, but also mechanical repairs like water pump replacements.
This annual cost can vary depending on your Hyundai’s age, model and location. For example, we compiled a list of popular models, their reliability ratings and their annual Hyundai maintenance costs below.
| Hyundai Model | RepairPal Reliability Rating | Annual Hyundai Maintenance Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Hyundai Elantra | 4.5 out of 5.0 | $452 |
| Hyundai Sonata | 4.0 out of 5.0 | $458 |
| Hyundai Veracruz | 4.0 out of 5.0 | $524 |
| Hyundai Santa Fe | 4.0 out of 5.0 | $515 |
| Hyundai Tucson | 4.0 out of 5.0 | $426 |
Your vehicle type is one variable to account for. The service you’re having performed is another. While routine maintenance work happens at different intervals, some intervals may cost more than others, depending on what needs to be done. Here are examples of how much Hyundai maintenance costs per service:
| Hyundai Maintenance Service | Hyundai Maintenance Costs |
|---|---|
| Oil and filter change | $116 to $135 |
| Tire rotation | $35 to $44 |
| Air filter replacement | $37 to $49 |
| Cabin air filter replacement | $59 to $91 |
| Brake fluid replacement | $64 to $80 |
| Spark plug replacement | $112 to $150 |
| Transmission fluid replacement | $99 to $111 |
| Coolant replacement | $71 to $89 |
Prepaid Hyundai Maintenance Plan
If you want to plan ahead and not worry about budgeting on an as-needed basis for Hyundai maintenance costs, the manufacturer’s Pre-Paid Maintenance plan is an option to consider. Hyundai offers plans that can extend up to 7 years or 105,000 miles, depending on your driving habits.
Here’s an overview of the Hyundai Protection Plan’s Pre-Paid Maintenance options:
| Hyundai Maintenance Item | Pre-Paid Maintenance | Pre-Paid Maintenance with Tire Rotation | Pre-Paid Scheduled Maintenance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oil change | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Oil filter change | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Multi-point inspection | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Climate control air filter replacement | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Air cleaner filter replacement | ✓ | ||
| Coolant replacement | ✓ | ||
| Spark plug replacement | ✓ | ||
| Hybrid Starter Generator (HSG) belt replacement | ✓ | ||
| Transmission fluid replacement | ✓ | ||
| Differential oil replacement | ✓ |
Under each of these plans, you can have your vehicle serviced at any Hyundai dealership nationwide. If you decide to sell your vehicle before your plan expires, you may be able to transfer your remaining coverage to a subsequent vehicle owner.
Drivers can either pay upfront for their Hyundai prepaid maintenance plan or pay monthly by rolling the cost into your vehicle’s lease or financing terms.
Hyundai Recommended Maintenance Schedule
Many manufacturers, including Hyundai, require drivers to keep vehicles in good condition to keep warranty coverage valid. This includes having all necessary maintenance work done in a timely manner. To make sure you’re having the right services performed, you can use Hyundai’s online maintenance tool. Depending on your vehicle’s age, model and mileage, the tool can guide you through your recommended service schedule. You can also find this information in your owner’s manual.
Although all Hyundai vehicles have specialized schedules, we found a more general maintenance guide from Pugi Hyundai. Below, we’ve outlined the main services needed at each service interval.
| Service Interval | Recommended Hyundai Maintenance Services |
|---|---|
| Every 3,750 miles | Replace engine oil |
| Every 7,500 miles | Use fuel additive, install oil filter, rotate tires |
| Every 15,000 miles | Replace climate control air filter |
| Every 30,000 miles | Replace air cleaner filter |
| Every 60,000 miles | Replace coolant and transmission fluid |
The Hyundai dealership also noted that multi-point inspections were recommended at each service check.
Vehicle Repairs and the Hyundai Maintenance Cost
Mechanical and electrical repairs also factor into the Hyundai maintenance cost. Checking your car’s reliability ratings is one way to ballpark what unexpected repairs you may experience. For reputable reliability scores, we turn to RepairPal, a site that analyzes customer reports to estimate repair costs and car brands’ overall dependability.
RepairPal gives Hyundai a 4.0 out of 5.0 reliability rating, ranking it fourth out of 32 car brands analyzed. Here’s how RepairPal comes to that conclusion:
- The Hyundai maintenance cost is 28% less than the industry-wide average.
- Hyundai vehicles are predicted to need repairs only 0.3 times per year.
- Only 10% of Hyundai repairs are expected to be severe, meaning that their cost will exceed three times the average annual repair cost.
Here are a few commonly reported repairs for Hyundai vehicles based on customer data from RepairPal:
| Hyundai Model | Common Repair | Estimated Hyundai Maintenance Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Hyundai Elantra | Transmission replacement | $2,878 to $2,992 |
| Hyundai Sonata | Air conditioning condenser replacement | $438 to $691 |
| Hyundai Veracruz | Starter replacement | $429 to $517 |
| Hyundai Santa Fe | Emergency brake cable replacement | $311 to $341 |
| Hyundai Tucson | Alternator replacement | $819 to $854 |
How Can an Extended Warranty Lower Hyundai Maintenance Costs?
An extended car warranty, or vehicle service contract, may lower your overall Hyundai maintenance cost by covering expensive repairs after your factory warranty expires. Rather than pay the total cost of repairs out of pocket, with an extended warranty, you’ll pay a one-time or monthly premium and a deductible when you visit a repair shop.
These optional protection plans can be purchased through the manufacturer or a third-party warranty company. The pros and cons of extended car warranties vary with each option. Learn about them below.
Hyundai Manufacturer Extended Warranty
There are three Hyundai extended warranty plans offered by the manufacturer, including:
- Powertrain: Covers your engine, transmission and drive axle
- Gold: Includes all Powertrain coverages, as well as your front and rear suspension, fuel system, electrical system, climate control and shocks
- Platinum: Includes all Gold and Powertrain coverages, as well as your brakes, steering, constant-velocity (CV) boots, navigation, audio and high-tech components
While manufacturer-backed vehicle service contracts offer specialized protection and the guarantee that only factory-trained technicians will work on your vehicle, they do have some limitations. Most manufacturers, Hyundai included, require that any covered repair work occurs at a dealership or approved repair center. This means that drivers with a favorite local repair shop may be out of luck.
Additionally, the Hyundai extended warranty must be purchased before your car’s factory bumper-to-bumper coverage expires, meaning you have a limited amount of time to decide if an extended warranty is a good financial investment for you.
Third-Party Hyundai Extended Warranty
For Hyundai drivers wanting more flexibility, a third-party warranty provider may be the better choice. You can still have service performed at a Hyundai dealership in most cases, as well as independent repair shops throughout the U.S. Reputable extended car warranty companies also offer longer contract terms – up to 15 years or 250,000 miles, depending on the provider – and more coverage options overall compared to manufacturer-backed plans.
Below, we’ve listed our top picks for extended car warranty coverage.
Best Options for Extended Hyundai Protection
When you’re shopping for an extended auto warranty, it’s always a good idea to get multiple quotes before purchasing a plan. This way, you can compare providers based on coverage and costs.
If you want to save money on your average Hyundai maintenance cost with an extended warranty, we recommend reaching out to Endurance and CARCHEX.
Endurance: Best Provider
Endurance is our top provider overall. It works directly with customers rather than through an administrator or other middleman, which makes both the quotes and claims processes more efficient. Here’s an overview of Endurance and its coverage plans:
- You can choose from six plans that extend up to 8 years or 200,000+ miles.
- Endurance works with both authorized repair shops and dealerships, giving drivers more options for covered repair work.
- The provider sells plans in all U.S. states except California.
- Endurance provides sample contracts online, making it easy to see what is and isn’t protected under its coverage plans.
Read our comprehensive Endurance warranty review for more information. You can also receive a free, personalized quote from the provider by clicking below.
CARCHEX: Best for High-Mileage Cars
Finding an extended car warranty for older, high-mileage vehicles can prove difficult. For drivers in this situation, we recommend CARCHEX. Here’s an overview of CARCHEX and its coverage plans:
- You can choose from five plans that extend up to 10 years or 250,000 miles.
- CARCHEX also offers sample contracts and quotes online, making it easy to inform yourself of its coverage plans before talking to a representative.
- The provider holds an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.
- CARCHEX is backed by industry experts like Kelley Blue Book, Edmunds.com and CARFAX.
Read our full CARCHEX review for more details, and reach out to the provider for a free quote below.
Methodology
The Detroit Bureau collects data from every major car warranty provider to formulate rankings of the best warranty companies. Our in-depth rating system takes into account coverage, pricing, transparency, customer satisfaction and ratings from industry experts. Each provider is given a weighted score in five categories, as well as an overall score out of 10.0.
We recommend auto warranty companies based on these rankings, but we also encourage you to perform your own research and compare quotes to find the best coverage.
