Research by Canstar Blue shows 81% Aussies are afraid of getting ripped off by our mechanic. Here’s our price guide to what you could expect to pay for the usual scheduled log book services.
The first question to be answered is simply what model of vehicle you have. Services cost different amounts because every model is made differently.
In 2014, a bunch of manufacturers launched CPS schemes – Capped Price Servicing or even Lifetime Capped Price Servicing – so that you’ll know how much certain scheduled services will cost:
We found in doing the following research that living in certain postcodes predicted that you would pay more or less at the mechanic for the same type and timing of service.
When it comes to the type of service your car needs, the main question is how many kilometres your car has done, and whether it’s due for a scheduled service.
The other question is whether any repairs are getting added in or whether it is your run of the mill, oil-and-filter-change service.
In the tables below, we compared the current advertised service charges (as at October 2015) for Holden, Ford, and Toyota, for 2-year-old hatchbacks and sedans, up to an estimated running life of 400,000km.
We’ve highlighted the major services that will hurt a little more. As you can see, as a car ages, it becomes more expensive to maintain – and the expensive services with repairs and replacements attached come more frequently.
Note: Holden’s pricing schedule has taken these additional replacements into account, while Ford’s schedule lists these as optional extras that are not included in the standard price. For this reason, we have where relevant compared Ford’s listed dealer service price against an independent mechanic’s listed price.
The biggest services you can expect
Service guide for a Hatchback
| Kilometres | Holden Barina | Ford Fiesta WT
(Dealer / Independent) |
|---|---|---|
| 15,000 | $225 | $275 |
| 30,000 | $488 | $275 |
| 45,000 | $283 | $275 |
| 60,000 | $930 | $375 / $663 |
| 75,000 | $381 | $275 |
| 90,000 | $488 | $275 / $417 |
| 105,000 | $283 | $275 |
| 120,000 | $1,086 | $375 / $663 |
| 135,000 | $283 | $275 |
| 150,000 | $586 | $275 / $890 |
| 165,000 | $291 | $275 |
| 180,000 | $981 | $375 / $693 |
| 195,000 | $246 | $275 |
| 210,000 | $549 | $275 |
| 225,000 | $442 | $275 |
| 240,000 | $1,297 | $375 |
| 255,000 | $348 | $275 |
| 270,000 | $618 | $275 |
| 285,000 | $369 | $275 |
| 300,000 | $1,380 | $375 |
| 315,000 | $392 | $275 |
| 330,000 | $696 | $275 |
| 345,000 | $416 | $275 |
| 360,000 | $1,643 | $375 |
| 375,000 | $594 | $275 |
| 390,000 | $783 | $275 |
Source: Holden, Ford, and AutoTech.
Service guide for a Sedan
| Kilometres | Holden Commodore Acclaim | Ford Focus LT | Toyota Camry Sedan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15,000 | $275 | $270 | $166 |
| 30,000 | $345 | $270 | $262 |
| 45,000 | $386 | $270 | $194 |
| 60,000 | $345 | $480 | $262 |
| 75,000 | $404 | $270 | $405 |
| 90,000 | $456 | $270 | $473 |
| 105,000 | $406 | $270 | $166 |
| 120,000 | $578 | $480 | $262 |
| 135,000 | $386 | $270 | $194 |
| 150,000 | $474 | $270 | $604 |
| 165,000 | $283 | $270 | $166 |
| 180,000 | $484 | $480 | $473 |
| 195,000 | $300 | $270 | $166 |
| 210,000 | $536 | $270 | $262 |
| 225,000 | $597 | $270 | $536 |
| 240,000 | $690 | $480 | $262 |
| 255,000 | $338 | $270 | – |
| 270,000 | $578 | $270 | – |
| 285,000 | $359 | $270 | – |
| 300,000 | $637 | $480 | – |
| 315,000 | $756 | $270 | – |
| 330,000 | $492 | $270 | – |
| 345,000 | $404 | $270 | – |
| 360,000 | $976 | $480 | – |
| 375,000 | $629 | $270 | – |
| 390,000 | $554 | $270 | – |
Source: Holden, Ford, and FixedPrice.
Service guide for a 4WD
| Kilometres | Holden Trax | Ford Territory |
|---|---|---|
| 15,000 | $286 | $280 |
| 30,000 | $300 | $280 |
| 45,000 | $462 | $380 |
| 60,000 | $423 | $280 |
| 75,000 | $306 | $280 |
| 90,000 | $521 | $415 |
| 105,000 | $460 | $280 |
| 120,000 | $483 | $280 |
| 135,000 | $540 | $380 |
| 150,000 | $1,649 | $435 |
| 165,000 | $349 | $280 |
| 180,000 | $748 | $415 |
| 195,000 | $365 | $280 |
| 210,000 | $538 | $280 |
| 225,000 | $637 | $380 |
| 240,000 | $578 | $280 |
| 255,000 | $399 | $280 |
| 270,000 | $681 | $415 |
| 285,000 | $417 | $280 |
| 300,000 | $2,243 | $435 |
| 315,000 | $965 | $380 |
| 330,000 | $468 | $280 |
| 345,000 | $456 | $280 |
| 360,000 | $954 | $415 |
| 375,000 | $477 | $280 |
| 390,000 | $512 | $280 |
Source: Holden and Ford.
