How much does it cost to maintain a car each month?
Buying a car for transportation is always a dream for many people. Besides the purchase price, the cost of maintaining a car is a factor that needs to be considered before deciding to spend the money.
Buying a car also requires careful consideration. There's an old saying, "You have to make do with what you have," and I find that true when it comes to buying a car. Before you buy a car, you should answer these three important questions: What type of car suits your budget (purchase price, running costs, and most importantly, fuel consumption)? What will you primarily use it for, and where will you park it? If you can satisfactorily answer these three questions, buying a car will no longer be a problem; otherwise, it could lead to financial ruin because of the car.
In addition, monthly car maintenance costs are also an issue that needs to be considered.
The cost of owning a mainstream car.
Mainstream cars are quite affordable; you can own a car in this segment for just 350-600 million VND.
Before driving on the road, vehicle owners are required to purchase civil liability insurance costing approximately 400,000 VND/year, periodic vehicle inspection fees of approximately 250,000 VND/time, and road maintenance fees of approximately 1,600,000 VND/year.
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| Mainstream car segment. Photo: BD |
In addition, the cost for each oil change and maintenance is approximately 1-3 million VND. Generally, those who use mainstream car models typically spend around 3-4 million VND per month to maintain their vehicle for a distance of 1,500km.
The cost of owning a mid-size car.
Mid-range cars are those priced between 800 million and 1.4 billion VND.
In terms of fuel consumption, each model in this segment will have different cylinder capacities and fuel consumption levels. Accordingly, the fuel consumption of this class of car is approximately 8 liters/100km on the highway, equivalent to 13 liters/100km in the city. Thus, car owners will spend an additional 4-6 million VND per month when traveling a distance of approximately 1,500km.
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| The cost of regularly replacing parts for mid-range cars is also higher than for mainstream cars. (Photo: BD) |
The cost of owning a luxury car.
The on-the-road cost for luxury cars ranges from 4 to 7 billion VND.
Notably, the maintenance, repair, and upkeep costs for this segment are significantly higher than those of the mid-range segment. Furthermore, repairing or replacing parts and components on these vehicles will also incur substantial expenses compared to normal.
The average fuel consumption is around 12-20 liters/100km, depending on the distance traveled. Adding in costs such as maintenance and parking, owners of luxury cars can spend approximately 10-20 million VND per month.
This is why many people don't buy cars.
Owning a car for the family is a good thing, but I regret that there are other, more reasonable options.