Oil change and maintenance costs
How much is an oil change?
What national chains and dealerships publish for a conventional, synthetic blend or full synthetic oil change, and what yearly maintenance costs — every price quoted from the page that states it, with the date we checked it. Prices are before sales tax.
Published prices
$29 – $100
Middle of 12 prices: $47
The prices behind it
- Walmart Auto Care Centersfixed price $29
all cars; up to 5 qts, extra oil charged
Quick-lube or national chain · checked October 16, 2026 · Source
- Walmart Auto Care Centersfixed price $39
all cars; up to 5 qts, extra oil charged
Quick-lube or national chain · checked October 16, 2026 · Source
- Grease Monkey (Denver market guide)$35 – $60
Denver, Colorado area only; across quick-lube shops, independents and some dealerships
Survey average · checked October 16, 2026 · Source
- Firestone Complete Auto Carefixed price $46
sedan, up to 5 quarts; NerdWallet price collection in the Indianapolis area (online prices or phone quotes), article last updated 2025-09-25; prices before special offers (phone quote)
Quick-lube or national chain · checked October 16, 2026 · Source
- Jiffy Lubefixed price $58
sedan, up to 5 quarts; NerdWallet price collection in the Indianapolis area (online prices or phone quotes), article last updated 2025-09-25; prices before special offers (phone quote)
Quick-lube or national chain · checked October 16, 2026 · Source
- Pep Boysfixed price $45
sedan, up to 5 quarts; NerdWallet price collection in the Indianapolis area (online prices or phone quotes), article last updated 2025-09-25; prices before special offers (online price)
Quick-lube or national chain · checked October 16, 2026 · Source
- SpeeDee Oil Changefixed price $57
sedan, up to 5 quarts; NerdWallet price collection in the Charlotte, NC area (SpeeDee does not operate in Indiana) (online prices or phone quotes), article last updated 2025-09-25; prices before special offers (phone quote, Charlotte NC area)
Quick-lube or national chain · checked October 16, 2026 · Source
- Take 5 Oil Changefixed price $50
sedan, up to 5 quarts; NerdWallet price collection in the Indianapolis area (online prices or phone quotes), article last updated 2025-09-25; prices before special offers (phone quote)
Quick-lube or national chain · checked October 16, 2026 · Source
- Valvoline Instant Oil Changefixed price $51
sedan, up to 5 quarts; NerdWallet price collection in the Indianapolis area (online prices or phone quotes), article last updated 2025-09-25; prices before special offers (phone quote)
Quick-lube or national chain · checked October 16, 2026 · Source
- Goodyear Auto Servicefixed price $46
sedan, up to 5 quarts; NerdWallet price collection in the Indianapolis area (online prices or phone quotes), article last updated 2025-09-25; prices before special offers (online price)
Quick-lube or national chain · checked October 16, 2026 · Source
- Kelley Blue Bookaverage $100
all cars; general guide figure, published 05/27/2025
Survey average · checked October 16, 2026 · Source
- Unnamed local oil-change franchise (Cars.com example)fixed price $47
single local example cited in a Cars.com article (April 4, 2026); not a national figure
Quick-lube or national chain · checked October 16, 2026 · Source
Prices checked October 16, 2026.
Published prices at a glance
The lowest and highest price published for each service, by type of shop. Prices are before sales tax, and a “from” price is the cheapest vehicle; larger engines take more oil and cost more.
Oil change — conventional
- Quick-lube or national chain
- $29 – $58n=10
- Dealership
- —
- Survey average
- $35 – $100n=2
Oil change — synthetic blend
- Quick-lube or national chain
- $35n=1
- Dealership
- —
- Survey average
- $45 – $75n=1
Oil change — full synthetic
- Quick-lube or national chain
- $69 – $105n=12
- Dealership
- $87 – $104n=3
- Survey average
- $70 – $120n=1
Oil change
- Quick-lube or national chain
- $49 – $59n=3
- Dealership
- $60n=1
- Survey average
- —
Timing belt replacement
- Quick-lube or national chain
- —
- Dealership
- —
- Survey average
- $918 – $1,338n=1
Brake fluid flush
- Quick-lube or national chain
- —
- Dealership
- $125n=1
- Survey average
- —
| Service | Quick-lube or national chain | Dealership | Survey average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oil change — conventional | $29 – $58n=10 | — | $35 – $100n=2 |
| Oil change — synthetic blend | $35n=1 | — | $45 – $75n=1 |
| Oil change — full synthetic | $69 – $105n=12 | $87 – $104n=3 | $70 – $120n=1 |
| Oil change | $49 – $59n=3 | $60n=1 | — |
| Timing belt replacement | — | — | $918 – $1,338n=1 |
| Brake fluid flush | — | $125n=1 | — |
What maintenance costs in a year
AAA's Your Driving Costs study, which prices maintenance and repairs over a year of driving, by vehicle type.
- new gas medium sedan, 15,000 miles/year, average over 5 years/75,000 miles of top-selling 2025 modelsaverage $1,786 Source
- new hybrid medium sedan, 15,000 miles/year, average over 5 years/75,000 milesaverage $1,551 Source
- new electric medium sedan, 15,000 miles/year, average over 5 years/75,000 milesaverage $1,358 Source
- new gas compact SUV, 15,000 miles/year, average over 5 years/75,000 milesaverage $1,746 Source
- new gas medium SUV, 15,000 miles/year, average over 5 years/75,000 milesaverage $1,769 Source
- new gas pickup truck, 15,000 miles/year, average over 5 years/75,000 milesaverage $1,703 Source
What each service includes
- Oil change
- Drain old oil, new oil filter, up to about five quarts of new oil, plus quick checks and fluid top-offs; extra oil is charged on bigger engines Source
- Oil change
- A US 'full-service oil change' adds fluid top-offs, air filter and wiper inspection to the oil and filter change Source
- Oil change — synthetic blend
- A mix of conventional and synthetic oil, priced between the two Source
- Oil change — full synthetic
- The dearest tier; better protection at temperature extremes and longer intervals Source
- Scheduled maintenance
- A factory-recommended 30,000-mile/36-month dealer service: oil and filter, engine and cabin air filters, tire rotation and a set of inspections Source
- Yearly maintenance
- AAA's figure covers routine manufacturer maintenance, an extended warranty, wear-and-tear repairs over five years and one set of tires, so it is wider than servicing alone Source
- Brake fluid flush
- All the old brake fluid is removed and replaced with fresh fluid, because old fluid absorbs moisture Source
- Scheduled maintenance
- New Toyotas come with ToyotaCare, which pays for normal factory scheduled maintenance for an initial period (the plan cards show 1 year/10,000 miles and 2 years/25,000 miles versions; bZ EVs 2 years/25,000 miles), so early milestone services on a new Toyota are usually free Source
Dealership prices
A dealer's published price or a maker's national offer. Most makers publish none online.
Chevrolet
- Oil change — full synthetic · most GM vehicles up to 6 quarts; excludes diesel engines and Corvettes; offer ends 12/14/2026GM dealers (national OEM offer, coupon code 204; as published by Klein Chevrolet)fixed price $87 Source
- Oil change — full synthetic · most GM vehicles needing up to 8 quarts (trucks/large SUVs)GM dealers (national OEM offer; as published by Klein Chevrolet)fixed price $104 Source
Honda
- Oil change — full synthetic · 2016 Honda Civic example in a Cars.com article (April 4, 2026); single local dealerUnnamed local Honda dealer (Cars.com example)fixed price $100 Source
- Oil change · Honda vehicles, up to 5 quarts; single franchised dealer; coupon expires 10-31-2026; '*Price may vary by model. Plus taxes and fees where applicable.'; oil type not statedPrecision Honda (Downey, CA)fixed price $60 Source
Subaru
- Brake fluid flush · Subaru vehicles only; single franchised dealer; coupon expires 10-31-2026; 'Prices may vary by model'Subaru of Melbourne (Melbourne, FL)fixed price $125 Source
How to pay less
- Use the oil your owner's manual names, at the interval it names. A full synthetic costs more per change but most newer engines need it, and its longer interval often evens out the cost.
- Ask for the price for your vehicle, not the “from” price: engines that take more than five quarts cost more.
- Having maintenance done at an independent shop doesn't void a new-car warranty. Under the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act a maker can't refuse warranty work just because someone else did the maintenance or used another brand of parts. Keep the receipts.
Where these prices come from
Every price is one a national chain, a dealership or a named publisher (AAA, NerdWallet, Kelley Blue Book and others) publishes, quoted word for word on the source page and dated. Collected or surveyed figures are labeled as such. We don't enter a ZIP code or VIN into anyone's quote tool, and we never invent a price for a vehicle we haven't seen.
Prices checked October 16, 2026.
Common questions
How much is an oil change?
Published prices run $29–$100 for conventional oil, $35–$75 for a synthetic blend, $69–$120 for full synthetic, before sales tax. The price for one vehicle depends on how many quarts it takes and the oil its manual names.
How much is a synthetic oil change?
Published full-synthetic oil changes run from $69 to $120, and the middle of the 16 we checked is $95.
How much does car maintenance cost per year?
AAA's Your Driving Costs puts maintenance and repairs at $1,786 a year for a new gas medium sedan, 15,000 miles/year, average over 5 years/75,000 miles of top-selling 2025 models, $1,551 a year for a new hybrid medium sedan, 15,000 miles/year, average over 5 years/75,000 miles, $1,358 a year for a new electric medium sedan, 15,000 miles/year, average over 5 years/75,000 miles. The cost rises as a vehicle ages and the mileage climbs.
How much does a timing belt replacement cost?
Published figures run from $918 to $1,338. Many engines have a timing chain instead, which isn't a scheduled replacement.
Does getting my oil changed at a quick-lube void my warranty?
No. Under the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act a manufacturer can't void a warranty or refuse warranty repairs just because maintenance was done somewhere other than a dealer, as long as it was done as the manual specifies. Keep the receipts.