Repair and maintenance costs are a big part of owning a car. In 2025, electric vehicles (EVs) cost less to keep running than cars with internal combustion engines (ICE). This gap is growing. Here’s what the numbers show.
Average yearly maintenance costs
| Vehicle type | Average yearly cost (USD) | Percent of 5-year budget | Main service items |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battery-electric | $949 | 23% | Tires, cabin filters, brake fluid |
| Plug-in hybrid | $1,090 | 25% | Oil changes, battery checks |
| Hybrid electric | $1,150 | 26% | More complex systems |
| Gasoline ICE | $1,279 | 29% | Oil, belts, spark plugs |
Cost per mile for scheduled maintenance
The U.S. Department of Energy tracks how much it costs per mile to maintain different cars. Here are the latest numbers for 2025:
- ICE: 10.1 cents per mile
- Hybrid: 9.4 cents per mile
- PHEV: 9.0 cents per mile
- BEV: 6.1 cents per mile
For someone who drives 15,000 miles a year, an EV owner pays about $915 less than an ICE owner.
Why EVs need less maintenance
EVs have fewer parts that move. A gas engine has over 2,000 moving parts. An EV motor has fewer than 20. No oil changes, no timing belts, no exhaust systems, and no multi-speed transmissions. This means fewer things break or wear out.
Oil and filter changes are needed every 7,500 miles for ICE cars. That costs $80-$125 each time. EVs don’t need this at all. Coolant for EV batteries gets changed every 5 to 7 years. ICE cars need coolant flushed every 2 to 3 years. Spark plugs and oxygen sensors are another $300-$600 over five years for ICE cars. EVs don’t use these parts.
EVs use regenerative braking. This saves brake pads and rotors. Brake pads last up to 70,000 miles in EVs, while ICE cars need them changed at 30,000 miles.
Unscheduled repairs and big-ticket items
ICE cars have more things that can break. Turbochargers cost $1,800 to $3,200 to replace. Timing chains cost $1,500 to $2,500. Exhaust parts can run $900 to $2,300.
EVs avoid these problems, but some repairs are expensive. Here are a few examples:
| Part | Typical 2025 repair cost (USD) | How often it fails (10 years) |
|---|---|---|
| Battery charge controller | $1,311 | Low |
| Power distribution box | $747 | Low |
| Full battery pack | $5,000-$12,000 | Very low (under 2%) |
Most EVs have battery warranties for 8 to 10 years. Battery packs lose about 1.8% capacity per year.
Parts prices and inflation in 2025
The average repair bill is now $105.87, up 2.6% from last year. EV repairs saw smaller price jumps than gas or diesel cars. Battery prices dropped to $128-$133 per kWh, making future battery replacements cheaper.
Cost per mile for commercial vehicles
Electric vans and trucks now have the lowest service costs. They cost $0.176 per mile to maintain. Diesel trucks cost $0.246 per mile. After three years, EV fleets spend about 81% less on maintenance than diesel fleets.
Five-year maintenance totals at 15,000 miles per year
| Powertrain | Year 1 | Year 3 | Year 5 | 5-year total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EV | $235 | $1,065 | $1,985 | $4,600 |
| ICE | $380 | $1,540 | $2,930 | $7,800 |
EVs lose value faster, but lower maintenance costs make up about 40% of the extra cost over five years. This doesn’t count fuel savings.
EVs now cost less to maintain than any other type of car. Some repairs are expensive, but they are rare. Most owners save money over time. As battery prices keep falling and more techs learn to fix EVs, these savings will grow. This is one reason more people and companies are choosing electric.
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