Are Hybrid Cars High Maintenance?

You’ll see more and more hybrid vehicles on Myrtle Beach roads for two reasons. First, they help drivers save money on refueling costs. Second, automakers are keeping up with demand by producing more hybrid cars, trucks, and SUVs. 

Yes, hybrid vehicles have electric components thanks to a battery that helps power your vehicle for Carolina Forest commutes. We understand that you might worry about the hybrid car maintenance costs because you may not be used to driving one of these new vehicles.

Put your fears to rest. Hadwin-White Buick GMC, Inc.’s following guide answers, “Are hybrid cars high maintenance?” You’ll find that the answer could surprise you!

Are Hybrid Cars High Maintenance for Drivers? 

No, hybrid car maintenance is not much different from gasoline-only models. Hybrid vehicles need oil changes, tire rotations, coolant flushes, and spark plug replacements the same as other engines. In fact, some parts may require less maintenance than gasoline-only vehicles because you use the gasoline engine less when traveling through Red Hill.

One thing that can lower your maintenance costs even more is having a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) vehicle for electric-only driving. 

Typical Costs for Hybrid Car Maintenance

Still wondering, “Are hybrid cars high maintenance?” Hybrid vehicles will need oil changes around every 6,000 to 7,500 miles, to go along with tire rotations, just like gasoline-only vehicles. Eventually, you’ll need transmission service, brakes, a new serpentine belt, and many of the same maintenance that gasoline-only vehicles have. So, you can plan for these maintenance items. Remember, when using electric-only power, the internal combustion engine won’t run, and it has less wear and tear.

The one difference with hybrid vehicle maintenance comes with the larger battery that powers the electric motor. It has a warranty of eight years and 100,000 miles, whichever comes first. Hybrid vehicle batteries may have a replacement cost of around $2,000. However, the fuel savings can outweigh this cost the longer you own your vehicle. Some hybrid vehicle owners report that their hybrid batteries last 200,000 miles or more.

Benefits of Hybrid Car Maintenance

Remember how we said hybrid cars could actually lower your maintenance costs by around Red Hill? Here are three reasons why:

• Increased Brake Life: Hybrid vehicles use regenerative braking, taking advantage of the momentum of your vehicle to regain some energy for the battery. This regenerative braking system allows you to put less pressure on the brakes, making them last longer.
• Longer Oil Change Intervals: Since your internal combustion engine may not always run, particularly with drives in Conway or other city driving, you could go longer between oil changes. Make sure you check the oil regularly to see how long your interval could be!
• Less Overall Maintenance: The electric motor found in hybrid vehicles has fewer moving parts, and while this motor runs the gasoline-powered engine isn’t moving. So, the internal combustion engine won’t wear out as fast when you own a hybrid vehicle, meaning it should last longer compared to a gasoline-only engine.

Schedule Hybrid Vehicle Maintenance Today at Hadwin-White Buick GMC, Inc.!

Is your hybrid vehicle ready for its next regularly scheduled maintenance? Schedule service with our certified service team or call (843) 347-4633. Meanwhile, see how much money you could save with our service and parts specials!