Buying a new car is a huge financial decision, and it’s not just about the price tag. You also have to consider ongoing costs like insurance, fuel, and especially maintenance. Smart buyers know that these long-term expenses really add up, so understanding the full package of ownership benefits, particularly free maintenance, is super important.
Many car manufacturers leverage free maintenance packages as a compelling incentive to attract customers. These programs are designed to reduce early ownership expenses, ensuring the vehicle remains in optimal condition from the outset. While the specifics can vary widely between brands—some offering extensive coverage and others limiting benefits to initial services—the core aim is to provide peace of mind and tangible savings. A typical free maintenance package covers scheduled service work for a set period or mileage limit, often including essential services like oil changes, fluid replacements, tire rotations, and air filter replacements. However, it’s important to note that these packages generally exclude repairs for accident damage, cosmetic wear, and glass replacements.
This in-depth guide is crafted to illuminate the landscape of free maintenance and comprehensive owner benefits offered by various automotive manufacturers. By dissecting the offerings from 15 leading brands, we aim to provide you with the authoritative, well-researched insights necessary to make an informed decision. We’ll explore not just the complimentary services, but also how these benefits integrate with overarching warranty programs, roadside assistance, and other perks that collectively enhance the ownership experience and mitigate unforeseen expenses for new car buyers.
1. **Toyota**
Toyota stands out with its ToyotaCare program, offering new vehicle owners two years or 25,000 miles of complimentary scheduled maintenance. This robust package ensures that essential services are handled without additional cost during the crucial early stages of ownership. The covered services include fundamental maintenance items vital for vehicle longevity and performance, such as oil changes, tire rotations, and fluid top-ups.
Beyond basic maintenance, ToyotaCare enhances the overall ownership experience by providing 24-hour roadside assistance, also for two years with unlimited mileage. This added layer of security provides significant peace of mind, knowing that help is available around the clock should unexpected issues arise. These combined benefits reinforce Toyota’s commitment to reliability and customer satisfaction, making it an attractive option for buyers seeking predictable and managed early ownership costs.
Toyota really stands out with its free maintenance package, potentially saving you around $300 to $400 in the first few years. This means you get expert care from trained technicians, which helps keep your car running smoothly and holds its value better. Toyota’s approach is clear and covers a lot, showing that great value can be offered to everyone.
2. **Honda/Acura**
Honda and its luxury counterpart, Acura, have recently rolled out programs to provide free scheduled maintenance for their new vehicles. Honda’s offering, known as Honda Service Pass, and Acura’s Maintenance Program, both debuted in 2023, covering two years or 24,000 miles. These programs aim to reduce the immediate financial burden of routine upkeep for new owners.
The maintenance packages for both brands typically cover essential services such as oil and filter changes, tire rotations, and multi-point inspections. For Acura, specifically, the program debuted for select vehicles, covering models across one year or 12,000 miles for services like oil and filter changes, multi-point inspections, and tire rotation. This is a significant addition, enhancing the appeal of their lineups by directly addressing early ownership costs.
While Honda’s offering is relatively standard for a mainstream brand, Acura’s free maintenance adds a premium touch, aligning with the expectations of luxury vehicle owners. Both programs are designed to ensure that essential maintenance is diligently performed without additional expense to the new owner, contributing to the vehicle’s long-term health and resale value. The Acura maintenance program is also transferable, adding potential value for subsequent buyers.
3. **Hyundai/Genesis**
Hyundai and its luxury division, Genesis, are renowned for providing some of the most comprehensive owner benefits in the automotive industry, spearheaded by their generous free scheduled maintenance programs. Both brands offer three years or 36,000 miles of complimentary scheduled maintenance, which includes critical services such as oil and filter changes, tire rotations, and multi-point inspections. This extensive coverage provides new owners with substantial financial relief during the initial years of vehicle ownership.
Hyundai goes above and beyond with its warranty, offering a 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty and an amazing 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty. They even include roadside assistance with no mileage limit and a 7-year/unlimited mileage corrosion warranty, which is great because it transfers to the next owner, boosting the car’s value. Plus, their hybrid and EV batteries are covered by the powertrain warranty, guaranteeing at least 70% capacity for a long time.
Genesis, as the luxury arm, benefits directly from this industry-leading warranty framework. Its complimentary maintenance program includes additional perks like cabin air filter changes and, specifically for the G90, free brake pads, wheel alignment, and wiper blades. Genesis further elevates the ownership experience with its ‘Service Valet,’ a concierge service that handles vehicle pickup and drop-off for scheduled maintenance, along with providing alternate transportation. This holistic approach to owner benefits firmly positions Hyundai and Genesis as leaders in delivering peace of mind and exceptional value.
4. **Mazda**
Mazda, while celebrated for its driving dynamics, reliability, and fuel efficiency, takes a different approach to complimentary maintenance compared to some competitors. The brand does not provide complimentary scheduled maintenance with its new vehicles nationwide. This means that new Mazda owners will need to budget for routine servicing from the outset of their ownership journey.
However, it’s worth noting that individual dealerships may offer prepaid maintenance plans as an optional extra. These plans allow owners to cover future service costs upfront, potentially at a reduced rate compared to paying for each service individually. While these are not manufacturer-backed free programs, they can still offer a structured way to manage maintenance expenses for those who prefer it.
For prospective buyers prioritizing free scheduled maintenance as a key incentive, Mazda’s lack of a factory-included program might make it less appealing when compared directly to brands that integrate such benefits. Owners should factor these routine maintenance expenses into their overall cost of ownership, carefully considering their budget and preferences for vehicle upkeep when evaluating Mazda models.
5. **Kia**
Similar to its corporate sibling Hyundai in many engineering aspects, Kia diverges when it comes to complimentary scheduled maintenance, as the brand does not include it with new vehicle purchases. This means that Kia owners are responsible for paying for routine services, a factor that prospective buyers should account for in their ownership budget. The absence of free maintenance contrasts with Hyundai’s generous offerings, despite their shared platforms.
While free maintenance isn’t part of the standard package, Kia does offer strong warranty coverage that helps to offset long-term costs. The brand provides a basic warranty of five years or 60,000 miles and a powertrain warranty of ten years or 100,000 miles, mirroring Hyundai’s impressive durations. However, Kia’s roadside assistance is capped at 60,000 miles within the five-year period, and its perforation warranty is five years or 100,000 miles, which is less extensive than Hyundai’s unlimited mileage offering.
For buyers keen on free scheduled maintenance, Kia’s approach necessitates either opting for a prepaid maintenance plan or budgeting for services out-of-pocket. Despite this, Kia’s robust warranty remains a significant draw, providing substantial protection against manufacturing defects and major component failures. This balance of strong warranty and optional prepaid maintenance requires buyers to weigh their priorities between immediate maintenance savings and long-term repair coverage.
6. **Mitsubishi**
Mitsubishi presents a competitive offering in the realm of free maintenance, providing three complimentary maintenance visits within the first two years or 30,000 miles of ownership. This program covers essential services such as oil and filter changes, tire rotations, and thorough inspections. While not as extensive in duration as some other brands, it effectively reduces early ownership costs and promotes proper vehicle upkeep during a critical period.
For the 2024 model year, Mitsubishi significantly updated and expanded its warranty coverage, aligning it with some of the best in the business. New Mitsubishi vehicles now come with five years or 60,000 miles of bumper-to-bumper coverage, which is transferable to subsequent owners. This comprehensive basic warranty includes roadside assistance, with unlimited mileage within those five years, offering exceptional everyday assurance.
Mitsubishi also impresses with a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty, which includes the Outlander Plug-In Hybrid’s battery and electrical parts. They also have a 7-year/100,000-mile anti-corrosion warranty. When you combine free maintenance, a solid basic warranty, and that leading powertrain warranty, Mitsubishi is a fantastic choice for anyone wanting long-term protection and lower ownership costs.
7. **BMW**
As a premier luxury automotive brand, BMW offers a compelling owner benefit package with its Ultimate Care program, which includes three years or 36,000 miles of complimentary scheduled maintenance. This generous offering significantly reduces the burden of service costs for luxury vehicle buyers, a segment often associated with higher maintenance expenses. The program covers essential services such as oil and filter changes, fluid top-ups, and routine inspections, ensuring that BMW vehicles receive expert care without immediate financial impact.
BMW’s maintenance coverage is widely regarded as one of the best in the premium segment, adding substantial value to its vehicles. For luxury car owners, this benefit is particularly attractive, as it helps to mitigate the typically higher labor rates and parts costs associated with maintaining high-performance, sophisticated automobiles. The Ultimate Care package helps to maintain the vehicle’s optimal performance and reliability, aligning with the brand’s reputation for engineering excellence.
This complimentary maintenance can also be passed on to the next owner, which is a nice bonus for boosting resale value, especially in the luxury market where ongoing costs are a big deal. While many luxury brands don’t offer much in the way of free maintenance, BMW really steps up with a solid program that offers a premium ownership experience, saving money and giving owners peace of mind.
Let’s dive deeper into how car companies give owners awesome benefits, looking at both luxury and mainstream brands with their unique maintenance and warranty plans. Knowing these details is key to getting the most out of your car purchase, ensuring you save money now and have peace of mind for years to come.
8. **Mercedes-Benz**
As a paragon of luxury, Mercedes-Benz often sets high expectations for its vehicles, yet its approach to complimentary maintenance diverges significantly from some of its premium competitors. For its traditional combustion-engine models, the brand does not offer a free maintenance program. This means that owners of these sophisticated vehicles are directly responsible for the costs of routine servicing from the moment they drive off the lot.
However, in a nod to the rapidly evolving automotive landscape, Mercedes-Benz does provide a notable exception for its all-electric EQ lineup. In select regions, owners of these cutting-edge electric vehicles receive two years of complimentary service. This strategic offering highlights a targeted effort to support the adoption of electric technology and provide a competitive edge within the EV market.
For owners of non-EQ models, or those beyond the initial two-year electric vehicle coverage, Mercedes-Benz does offer prepaid maintenance plans. While these plans are not free, they can help mitigate the often higher service costs associated with luxury vehicles by allowing owners to lock in rates and manage expenses upfront. Prospective buyers must carefully factor these routine maintenance expenses into their overall ownership budget when considering a Mercedes-Benz.
9. **Jaguar**
Jaguar stands out remarkably in the luxury segment with its comprehensive and industry-leading free scheduled maintenance program. The brand provides an impressive five years or 60,000 miles of complimentary service, a commitment that significantly eases the financial burden of luxury vehicle upkeep. This extensive plan covers critical services essential for maintaining performance and longevity.
Owners benefit from included services such as regular oil changes, crucial brake fluid replacements, and diligent tire rotations, ensuring the vehicle operates at its peak. Jaguar’s dedication to robust after-sales service is a key differentiator, making it an exceptionally appealing choice for discerning luxury buyers who prioritize predictable long-term costs and hassle-free ownership.
Beyond maintenance, Jaguar provides a solid bumper-to-bumper warranty of five years or 60,000 miles, with identical coverage for its powertrain. This protection is complemented by roadside assistance and an allowance for trip interruption during the warranty period, adding layers of security and convenience. This holistic package reflects Jaguar’s commitment to a premium and reassuring ownership experience, working to offset any historical perceptions of reliability.
10. **Audi**
Despite its strong position as a premier luxury automotive brand, Audi’s strategy regarding complimentary maintenance differs considerably from some of its direct rivals. The brand does not include complimentary scheduled maintenance with the purchase of its new vehicles. This means that new Audi owners will need to allocate funds for routine servicing from day one.
If your car doesn’t come with free factory maintenance, Audi lets you buy prepaid maintenance plans. These can be a smart way to budget for future service and might even save you money compared to paying as you go, but it’s important to remember these are extra costs you’re choosing to pay.
For buyers who consider free scheduled maintenance a significant incentive, Audi’s approach may place it at a disadvantage when directly compared to luxury brands like BMW or Jaguar, which offer more extensive complimentary service packages. Prospective Audi owners should thoroughly factor these ongoing maintenance expenses into their overall cost of ownership to make a truly informed decision.
11. **Infiniti**
Nissan’s luxury brand, Infiniti, really knows how to spoil its owners with a fantastic free scheduled maintenance program. They offer three years of complimentary scheduled maintenance, which significantly cuts down on your initial ownership costs and makes them a very attractive option in the luxury car segment. This package covers all the essential services to keep your vehicle in top shape.
These services typically include regular oil changes, crucial filter replacements, and thorough inspections, ensuring the vehicle receives diligent care during its early years. This comprehensive approach to maintenance, combined with Infiniti’s robust warranty coverage, positions it as a strong contender for buyers seeking a balanced blend of luxury and practical value.
Infiniti’s basic warranty lasts for four years or 60,000 miles, giving you more mileage coverage than many other four-year warranties out there. The powertrain warranty provides six years or 70,000 miles of protection. Plus, they include four years of roadside assistance with unlimited mileage and help with trip interruptions if your car breaks down more than 100 miles away. Many Infiniti dealerships even offer extra perks like picking up and dropping off your car and providing a loaner while it’s being serviced.
12. **Porsche**
Porsche, synonymous with high-performance engineering and exclusive luxury, takes a more focused approach to complimentary maintenance than many other brands. For its new vehicles, Porsche typically offers only limited free maintenance, often covering just the very first service appointment. This initial check-up ensures the vehicle is properly settled into its ownership journey.
This limited offering implies that beyond the introductory service, Porsche owners are responsible for budgeting and covering the costs of all subsequent routine maintenance. Given that luxury performance vehicles often entail higher labor rates and specialized parts, these ongoing expenses can be substantial and should be carefully considered by prospective buyers.
While Porsche vehicles are celebrated globally for their unparalleled performance, precision engineering, and driving excellence, the relatively high service costs beyond the initial complimentary visit can be a significant factor. Discerning buyers must weigh the brand’s legendary appeal against the realities of long-term maintenance expenses, prioritizing their personal value proposition when investing in a Porsche.
13. **Ford/Lincoln**
The Ford brand generally does not offer free maintenance programs for its vehicles, meaning that mainstream Ford owners will typically pay for all scheduled services. This approach requires buyers to factor routine maintenance costs into their budget from the outset, aligning with many other high-volume manufacturers.
However, Lincoln, Ford’s luxury arm, distinguishes itself significantly in this area, particularly with its premium Black Label models. These exclusive Lincoln vehicles receive a comprehensive four years or 50,000 miles of complimentary scheduled servicing. This extensive package covers essential maintenance items, including routine oil changes, precise tire rotations, and thorough multi-point inspections.
This generous offering adds substantial value to Lincoln’s high-end models, providing an elevated ownership experience that aligns with luxury expectations. Lincoln further enhances this by offering a concierge service for warranty work, which includes convenient vehicle pickup and drop-off from the owner’s location, alongside the provision of a loaner vehicle during service.
14. **Chevrolet/Buick/Cadillac/GMC**
The collective brands under General Motors—Chevrolet, Buick, Cadillac, and GMC—offer a consistent, albeit minimal, complimentary maintenance benefit for their new vehicle owners. These brands provide one free scheduled maintenance service, which must typically be redeemed within the first year of ownership. This initial service provides a foundational benefit to new buyers.
This single complimentary service is designed to cover essential early maintenance, generally including an oil change, a tire rotation, and a multi-point inspection. For owners of the iconic Corvette C8, there’s a slight extension to this flexibility, allowing them to redeem this valuable service at any point within the first two years of their ownership, providing a bit more leeway.
While this offering is notably less extensive in duration compared to the multi-year programs offered by some competitors, it nonetheless represents a tangible, early saving for new vehicle buyers. It ensures that critical initial upkeep is performed by certified technicians without an immediate out-of-pocket expense, setting the vehicle off on the right foot, even if long-term maintenance costs remain the owner’s responsibility.
15. **Jeep**
In a notable move for a Stellantis brand, Jeep distinguishes itself by offering a robust complimentary maintenance program through its ‘Jeep Wave’ initiative. This program provides new Jeep owners with three years of free maintenance, a benefit that significantly enhances the overall ownership experience and reduces initial service expenses.
The Jeep Wave program covers essential services crucial for maintaining the rugged reliability expected of a Jeep, including the first couple of oil changes, notably without mileage restrictions. Beyond core maintenance, the program extends its value with additional perks, such as access to a one-day rental car and 24/7 roadside assistance, adding layers of convenience and peace of mind for adventurers.
This comprehensive package underscores Jeep’s commitment to its community and its vehicles’ long-term performance, making it a particularly attractive option for buyers who value a supportive ownership ecosystem. Unlike many of its corporate siblings that offer limited or no free maintenance, Jeep’s inclusive approach through Jeep Wave provides a compelling advantage, fostering a worry-free relationship between owner and vehicle.
There are so many great deals out there on free maintenance and owner perks across the car industry. Brands like Jaguar and Genesis offer long-term programs, while others focus on specific services. Every carmaker has its own way of attracting buyers. This guide shows that buying a car is just the beginning; the real value comes from these extra benefits. By carefully comparing these programs, understanding what they cover, and seeing how they fit your needs, you can make a smart choice, save a lot of money, and enjoy a truly worry-free driving experience for years to come. It’s not just about the car; it’s about the whole journey it offers.
