Are Toyota Prius Repairs Expensive?
Thinking of getting a Toyota Prius but worried that the repairs for a car like this could go over your head?
Toyota’s popularity as a car manufacturer continues to rise as the years go by. It’s predicted that the company will produce a total of 9 million units by 2018.
Out of all their vehicles, the Prius is the one making all the big splashes due to its energy innovations. However, people fear that the costs of maintenance are too high.
If you need some Toyota Prius repairs, you might feel worried about the costs especially if it’s your first time. However, if you want to know about the hybrid repair costs for this particular car, read on.
How Much Do Prius Repairs Cost?
People laud the Prius for their efficiency and extreme reliability, but most long-time owners agree that this vehicle makes them pay more for repairs. Also, keep in mind that repair costs still depend on what kind of issues you have to address. The cost for changing a spark plug is vastly different from the cost of an engine change.
Studies confirm that the Toyota Prius repair costs 8.4% more than the usual hybrid cars on the market. It’s more prominent on earlier Prius models so if you have a newer model; you don’t need to worry about the increase in most cases.
The reason behind the increased price in earlier Prius models is the fact that Toyota didn’t produce as many units in its early years.
It’s because it didn’t sell well compared to its contemporaries like the Honda Civic, Honda Accord, and other models. This reduced the available parts sold by recyclers and required people to buy directly from Toyota.
Manufacturer parts will almost always have a higher price compared to secondhand parts. What this means is that the average costs of repairing the Prius went up. Add that to the fact that the hybrid versions of Prius cost more than regular cars; you get a higher repair cost.
If you’re looking for a solid number, you can always ask repair companies for a quote. But at an average, the cost of repair can range from $70 up to around $5,000 depending on the type of repair and the experts you hire. Every year, you can expect to spend about $305 on maintaining your Toyota Prius.
What’s the Trade-Off for the Higher Costs?
With the Toyota Prius a hybrid car, it costs you less to ensure it. Most insurers often identify the driver buying this type of vehicle as mature and responsible. In an average, the Prius costs around $1,300–much lower than the standard $1,871 annual insurance cost among other vehicle types.
Most insurance companies provide a 10% discount due to the simple fact that you’re driving a hybrid car like the Prius. It stacks with the good driver, multi-policy, and other discounts you can avail of.
Here are other benefits that come from owning a Prius:
1. It Has Great Fuel Economy and Cost
Regardless of the type of gasoline-powered car out there, the Toyota Prius gets the best fuel economy. Overall, it has 44mpg and 55mpg on the highway. With the right care and tinkering, it’s possible to improve this output in a lot of ways.
This sleek hybrid car model is also one of the most affordable brands in the car industry. When considering various factors like depreciation, fuel cost, maintenance, and repairs, the Prius only costs about $0.47 per mile of operation. Comparing it to other luxurious cars, the Prius is a more thrifty yet efficient option.
2. It Can Last for a Long Time
A lot of Prius owners can attest to the fact that its long-haul reliability is superb. Most report that they clocked in hundreds of thousands of miles without having to replace it. Even previous generations of Prius with more than 200,000 miles can still perform close to the newer generations of the model.
Even when the car has a lot of high-tech hardware at its disposal, there are a lot of maintenance works you can do without going to the car repair shop.
3. It’s a Greener Option
With the gas prices skyrocketing for the last few years, going green took on a new financial meaning on a lot of consumers. Going green is great no matter what situation, but owning a hybrid car like a Prius allows you to become hipper and responsible for both your wallet and the environment. Even when a lot of car manufacturers started manufacturing hybrid cars due to the rising demand, the Toyota Prius remains as one of the most desirable options out there.
4. It Has Tax Incentives and Free HOV Passes
Depending on where you live, it’s possible that you get some income tax credits. If ever you get a hybrid car like the Prius, it’s always worth checking with your accountant. Let them check about the tax credits you qualify for when buying your Prius since some of these credits can get quite substantial.
There are also a lot of states that introduced incentives for hybrid car owners. In these locations, you often get free HOV passes and sometimes special parking passes.
Saving money on HOV passes might not be much compared to other benefits you can enjoy. However, the feeling of safety while driving in the HOV lane without the need of observing for police attention can make your time much better.
Get the Prius Repairs Today!
The Toyota Prius is a reliable car that has great fuel efficiency. With this, it’s a greener option that lasts for a lot of years before it goes defunct. While its repair costs are higher than most hybrid cars on the market, the fact that you don’t need to do this as often more than makes up for it.
Always remember that it has other benefits that can make your life better. The tax incentives and other advantages you gain can make you thankful for picking this hybrid car over other brands. If you want to upgrade your Prius to become sportier, Toyota sells a complete set of TRD accessories to facilitate that preference.
Do you need help with your Prius repairs? Here is the complete list of repair manuals you can read no matter what model you have.