In the quest for a new vehicle, the initial cost is just the beginning of the story. Many drivers facing tight budgets are more concerned about the ongoing expenses of keeping their cars on the road year after year. While expenses like insurance and petrol prices continue to rise, the long-term maintenance cost often sneaks up unexpectedly.
Kazimieras Urbonas, supplier excellence manager at Ovoko, an online platform for pre-owned car parts, emphasizes the importance of considering the ease and affordability of maintaining a vehicle over the long haul. Some car brands are more cost-effective to maintain and less likely to be written off after accidents, ultimately saving drivers money in the long run.
Ovoko conducted an analysis of maintenance costs and write-off probabilities across 20 prominent car manufacturers in the UK to identify which models offer the best long-term durability. The results revealed surprising insights, highlighting that well-known brands do not always perform as well as more budget-friendly options.
Leading the rankings is MINI, scoring a perfect 100 for its combination of reasonable annual maintenance costs of £425 and the lowest write-off rate among all brands at 63.16%. Hyundai follows closely behind with a score of 95, showcasing that affordability does not equate to high maintenance costs. Volkswagen secures the third spot with a score of 92.6, demonstrating a commitment to accessible parts and standardized components.
Toyota ranks fourth with a score of 89.4, maintaining its reputation for reliability with annual maintenance costs of £425 and a 65.54% write-off rate. Skoda rounds out the top five with a score of 86.9, benefiting from shared engineering with Volkswagen and competitive maintenance costs.
Interestingly, Honda, known for its reliability, lands in 13th place with a score of 34.8, primarily due to a high write-off likelihood of 78.10%. On the other end, BMW struggles with a score of 0, despite its premium pricing, attributed to high maintenance costs and a 56.51% write-off likelihood.
The longevity of a vehicle often hinges on factors like parts availability, repair costs, and design. Manufacturers that prioritize durability and collision protection produce cars that can withstand more impact before being deemed total losses, albeit at higher maintenance expenses.
Urbonas advises consumers to select a brand carefully, ensuring parts availability for used cars, and evaluating total ownership costs rather than just the initial price. The analysis ranks car brands based on maintenance ease and survivability, using average maintenance costs and likelihood of being written off as core factors.
Data was collected specifically for the UK market from 2019 to 2025, providing insights into the long-term viability of different car brands. The study underscores the importance of considering maintenance costs and durability when choosing a vehicle for extended use.