Which New Cars Have Free Maintenance?

A big motivator for buying a new car is getting the new-car warranty that offers protection against unexpected repair bills for at least a few years while you are still making payments. Some automakers add a sweetener on top of that new-car warranty: free scheduled maintenance that covers those expected costs for an initial number of miles or years.

True, most new cars need less scheduled maintenance, but they still require regular care for reliable operation to spot potential problems and comply with new-car warranty requirements. Help with any expense is welcome as the cost of vehicle operation and insurance costs continue to rise.

Cars With Free Maintenance

Here are the car brands that offer some level of free scheduled maintenance for the 2024 model year (excluding exotic and high-end niche brands):

Honda, Acura

Honda and its Acura premium brand cover routine maintenance for two years or 24,000 miles.

Alfa Romeo

This Stellantis brand offers a complimentary first scheduled service for up to one year or 10,000 miles.

BMW

BMW provides regularly scheduled maintenance for three years or 36,000 miles (a typical lease term), and the coverage is transferable up to the limits.

Cadillac, Chevrolet, Buick, GMC

These GM brands offer a complimentary first scheduled maintenance during the first year (up to two years for the Chevy Corvette).

Ford, Lincoln

These Ford brands do not have a designated free maintenance plan, though they have a rewards program that allots points for vehicle purchases (in varying amounts by powertrain and model) and other Ford and dealer purchases. The points can be exchanged for Ford and dealer goods and services, so they could be used for scheduled maintenance. Separately, Lincoln’s top-level Black Label trim gets its own premium maintenance program that includes free scheduled service for four years, 50,000 miles or four service visits, whichever comes first.

Infiniti

This Nissan premium brand provides three years of scheduled maintenance services.

Hyundai, Genesis

Hyundai and its Genesis premium brand offer three years or 36,000 miles of free scheduled maintenance for the first buyer.

Jaguar

A leader for free service on this list is Jaguar. The luxury brand provides complimentary coverage for all factory-recommended scheduled maintenance five years or 60,000 miles.

Jeep

As part of the Jeep Wave loyalty program of benefits included with the purchase of a Jeep vehicle, initial buyers get two free oil changes and tire rotations during the first 24 months of ownership (reduced from three visits in 36 months, as it had been previously).

Lexus

The Toyota luxury brand provides the first two scheduled maintenance visits free — one at six months or 5,000 miles and the second at one year or 10,000 miles.

Lucid

The luxury electric automaker offers two years of free scheduled maintenance.

Mercedes-Benz

The luxury brand doesn’t offer complimentary maintenance for its gasoline vehicles, but it does provide two years of free service for its all-electric EQ lineup.

Mini

This BMW-owned brand offers regularly scheduled maintenance for three years or 36,000 miles.

Mitsubishi

Mitsubishi now offers three scheduled maintenance visits free within the first two years or 30,000 miles of ownership.

Polestar

The all-electric brand’s Polestar 2 and Polestar 3 models come with free scheduled maintenance for three years or 30,000 miles.

Porsche

The Volkswagen-owned luxury brand offers a complimentary first scheduled service visit for internal combustion vehicles at one year or 10,000 miles.

Subaru

While complimentary service is not offered nationwide, Subaru’s Maintain the Love program offers free scheduled maintenance for two years or 24,000 miles to buyers in select, mostly warm-weather markets, where the automaker’s four-wheel-drive appeal is not as strong. Check with local dealers in your market.

Toyota

Toyota provides complimentary scheduled maintenance for two years or 25,000 miles.

Volkswagen

All new VW models come with free scheduled maintenance for two years or 20,000 miles.

Volvo

Volvo provides complimentary scheduled maintenance for gasoline and plug-in hybrid vehicles for three years or 30,000 miles. Battery-electric Volvos are covered with free scheduled maintenance for four years or 40,000 miles.

Details Will Vary

These factory free maintenance programs are just that — free — unlike the widely offered prepaid service plans that many automakers offer at extra cost when you buy the car. Most of the complimentary scheduled maintenance offers are only for buyers and lessees at a brand’s franchised dealerships. It’s a relatively inexpensive sales incentive for automakers that also helps establish a service relationship for the dealers.

The programs vary widely in the length of coverage (in miles or years) and items covered, which can range from just one oil change, inspection and tire rotation to years of scheduled care and even key fob batteries. Some may be transferable to a new owner, and certain models may be excluded. If a free maintenance program is a priority for you, it’s best to ask the dealer for a copy of the offer and check the small print for the specific items covered and for how long.

Automaker free maintenance offers also are separate from and more portable than the free service plans some dealers offer, which generally are honored only by that dealer.

Is the Perk Worth It for Buyers?

A free maintenance program could be worthwhile if you’re trying to decide between a vehicle with one and one without. Most new vehicles need little scheduled maintenance for the first three years beyond oil changes, tire rotations and maybe cabin air filters — but those items still could be worth a few hundred dollars. Low-mileage drivers should check the program’s details to see if it covers maintenance visits only by mileage (which you might not hit) or by time intervals.

While the maintenance can be helpful, the new-car warranty will cover actual repairs or defects. Routine wear-and-tear items, such as wiper blades, are typically not covered by either.

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