Most Owners of New EVs Give Up The Often-Cited Maintenance & Repair Advantage

Electric vehicle advocates frequently mention that the vehicles should be less expensive and less bothersome to maintain and repair, yet four out of five new EV customers may never enjoy that benefit. 

Ask electric vehicle advocates why they are better than vehicles equipped with other powertrain choices, and one reason is nearly always mentioned - Maintenance and Repairs. EV supporters claim that electric vehicles cost less to maintain and repair and allow owners to escape having to have the cars in for service as often as traditional vehicles and other green vehicle choices. We will agree that EVs could have reduced maintenance and repairs compared to other choices, but the present reality is a bit different from the theory. 

Related Story: Tesla Tries to Prop Up Failing Cybertruck’s Sales With Year-End Special Lease Deal

80% of New EV Customers Lease
For most of the past few decades the majority of new car customers bought their vehicles either outright or financed the vehicle. Leasing was a minority of new vehicle transactions for many years, peaked at about a third of transactions and then fell to as low as 17% between 2019 and 2022. The percentage of leases overall is climbing back up again, and EVs have a LOT to do with that. Overall, new electric vehicle transactions are running at about 80% leases right now. Hyundai’s CEO recently confirmed that this was true for the Ioniq 5 and other Hyundai EVs in a direct communication with your author. 

There Are No Repair Costs During Lease Years
Many new EV owners will give up the big maintenance and repair benefit because, as Consumer Reports puts in a recent story on the topic, “You drive the car during its most trouble-free years.” This is true due to the vehicle’s age, but also because most leases run for about three years. During that period, the car is covered under the new car warranty, also known as the “bumper to bumper” warranty. There are no repair costs because virtually all repairs are covered. This is true of all types of vehicles, not just EVs, and it is a big reason why some folks like to lease. 

Here Are All The Brands That Come With Included Maintenance In 2025

There Are No Maintenance Costs For Most Brands and Models During a Lease
Nearly every manufacturer now offers included maintenance for new vehicles. It ranges from two years to five years, depending on the brand. There are some exceptions. However, leases traditionally include maintenance anyway. The manufacturer has a big reason to include it, since they will be taking the car back after the lease ends, and they want it to work properly and they want it to retain its resale value since they will be selling it again. As one Volkswagen dealer puts it, “One of the most popular benefits for leasing a car is the maintenance provisions available in most leases. Most leases will cover your vehicle’s service needs.” A Ram dealer summed up the way leases work as well, saying, “Leasing a vehicle also means you don't have to deal with the unreliability and repairs associated with an aging vehicle. A typical three-year lease includes a bumper-to-bumper warranty so you won't be stuck with major repair bills if something breaks. Repairs are usually covered in leases. Additionally, you won't have to worry about expensive maintenance costs because you won't own the vehicle long enough for expensive parts to wear down and need replacing.”

What Happens After A Lease Ends?
After a lease ends, most lessees turn the vehicle in and lease or buy a new vehicle. Some leases allow the lessee to buy the vehicle out at lease end, but not all. Only about 20 to 25% of those who lease end up buying the vehicle. 

The New EV Reality - Any Leased Vehicle Has the Same Benefits
As we’ve explained, it doesn't matter if your vehicle is battery-electric, hybrid-electric, or has a traditional powertrain. If you lease, you won't be paying for maintenance or repairs since they are almost always covered during the lease period, which runs around three years on average. Here, EVs have no special advantage. 

How Often Do EVs Need Service?
The most frequently needed service is tire-related. EVs are generally a bit harder on tires than conventional vehicles, but regardless of the powertrain, tire-related services are the most common and the most frequent.  Tesla recommends that its most popular models have tire service every 6,250 miles at a minimum. This is a simple inspection and rotation, but it requires a lift and an able-bodied person to do the work. Oil change intervals have stretched out since synthetic oil overtook the market and are generally between 5,000 and 10,000 miles. Having an EV won’t mean fewer service visits since tire services are the limiting factor. 

EVs are Driven Less Than Other Types of Vehicles
Vehicles with battery-electric powertrains are driven far less miles per year on average than vehicles with conventional or hybrid powertrains. iSeeCars found that popular EV models like the Nissan Leaf and Chevy Bolt are driven about half the annual miles of vehicles overall. Even popular models like the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y are driven on average about 10,000 miles per year. The EPA uses an average 50% higher (15,000 miles) when determining its fuel costs. Drive less, and your maintenance needs are less, regardless of the technology you own. 

Older EVs Service Costs- What Does the Data Say?
Up until about 2020, electric vehicles were sold in extremely low volumes, so there isn’t good data to show how much money is saved on repairs and maintenance by driving an older EV. We do know that Tesla does horribly on the J.D. Power Dependability Study, ranking near the very bottom of brands. This is the only real EV data point since only Tesla sold EVs in volume three model years ago. The Dependability study looks at owner-reported problems with three-year-old models. Here’s what we do know:

1. A study by We Predict found there was virtually no difference between EVs and other types of vehicles’ repair and maintenance costs after three years of ownership. 
2. When Tesla first started in America, the maintenance and repair plans Tesla sold were among the highest priced in the industry. 
3. A study by Consumer Reports found that all-electric Tesla’s Maintenance and Repair Costs were within $900 of Buick’s and Toyota’s, two brands that sell almost no EVs.

Related Story - If EV Maintenance Is So Cheap Why Isn’t It Included By Manufacturers?

Conclusion - Most New EV Owners Won’t Enjoy Any Maintenance and Repair Cost Advantages
With four out of five new EV transactions being leases, the majority of those who acquire a new EV won’t enjoy any special maintenance and repair advantages during their lease period. Beyond that period, added tire costs for EVs negate much of the possible financial advantage by comparison to other options. While EVs do offer a theoretical advantage, the reality is that there is no meaningful difference for those who lease, which is four out of five new EV shoppers. 
 

Image Credits: Maintenance page shown is from Tesla manual. Image of Tesla service area by John Goreham. Image of battery electric vehicle lease deal by John Goreham.

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John Goreham is a credentialed New England Motor Press Association member and expert vehicle tester. John completed an engineering program with a focus on electric vehicles, followed by two decades of work in high-tech, biopharma, and the automotive supply chain before becoming a news contributor. He is a member of the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE int). In addition to his eleven years of work at Torque News, John has published thousands of articles and reviews at American news outlets. He is known for offering unfiltered opinions on vehicle topics. You can connect with John on Linkedin and follow his work on our X channel. Please note that stories carrying John's by-line are never AI-generated, but he does employ Grammarly grammar and punctuation software when proofreading.