EV Servicing Costs in Australia: What You Actually Pay by Brand

EV servicing costs between $165 and $670 per visit in Australia, depending on the brand and whether it is a minor or major service. That is 40 to 60 percent less than a comparable petrol car. But the specific number varies wildly by manufacturer, and a few costs that barely exist on petrol cars (tyres, 12V battery) become the line items EV owners actually notice.

Here is what each major brand charges, what is included, and where the real maintenance costs hide.

EV Servicing Cost by Brand

The five best-selling EV brands in Australia each handle servicing differently. Some offer capped-price programs with transparent pricing. Others publish nothing.

BYD (Atto 3, Seal, Dolphin, Sealion 7)

BYD has the clearest pricing in the Australian EV market. All models follow a 12-month or 20,000 km service interval with a 10-year capped-price program through authorised dealers and 275 mycar service centres nationally.

Model	Minor service	Major service	Annual average
Atto 3	$165	$498	$341
Dolphin	$165	$498	$335
Seal (RWD)	$165	$535	$360
Seal Performance	$165	$635	$423
Sealion 7	$165	$635	$415

BYD’s minor service is one of the cheapest in the market at $165. New vehicles also receive a complimentary safety check at 3 months or 5,000 km.

Warranty: 6 years or 150,000 km (vehicle), 8 years or 160,000 km (battery).

Source: BYD Australia capped-price servicing schedule, as of July 2026.

Tesla (Model Y, Model 3)

Tesla does not publish service costs or fixed intervals. The car monitors its own condition and notifies you when attention is needed. There is no capped-price program.

What Tesla does specify:

• Brake fluid check: every 2 years
• Cabin air filter: every 2 years
• HEPA filter: every 3 years
• Air conditioning desiccant: every 6 years
• Tyre rotation: every 10,000 km

Owner reports and industry data suggest annual maintenance averages $300 to $600, though this varies depending on which items fall due. A CarsGuide transparency review rated Tesla 6 out of 10 for service cost disclosure. Servicing is available through Tesla Service Centres and Tesla Mobile Service (a technician comes to your location).

A 2024 Electric Vehicle Council survey of Australian Tesla owners found that 41% estimated saving more than $1,000 per year on maintenance compared to their previous petrol car, with 7% reporting savings above $2,000.

Warranty: 5 years, unlimited km (from January 2026). Battery: 8 years or 192,000 km (AWD) / 160,000 km (RWD).

Hyundai (IONIQ 5, IONIQ 6)

Hyundai uses a 24-month or 30,000 km service interval for its EV models. Each service visit is capped at $667 under the Lifetime Service Plan.

At one service every two years, the effective annual cost is approximately $334. That is competitive, though the $667 per-visit figure looks high compared to BYD’s $165 minor service. Hyundai bundles more into each visit because the intervals are longer.

Warranty: 5 years, unlimited km (vehicle). Battery: 8 years or 160,000 km.

Kia (EV6, EV5)

Kia offers prepaid EV service plans with servicing every 12 months or 15,000 km:

Plan	Cost	Per-service average
3 services	$842	$281
5 services	$1,570	$314
7 services	$2,319	$331

The prepaid approach gives certainty. The per-service cost is moderate, sitting between BYD’s minor and major service pricing.

Warranty: 7 years, unlimited km. Battery: 7 years or 150,000 km.

MG (MG4, MG ZS EV)

MG services every 24 months or 40,000 km under its Precise Price Service program. Seven years of capped servicing totals $3,905 for the MG4, averaging $558 per year.

That annual average is the highest among the five brands here. However, MG’s longer service interval means fewer visits. And MG offsets servicing costs with the most generous warranty in the Australian market: 10 years or 250,000 km on the vehicle, conditional on servicing at authorised dealers.

Warranty: 10 years or 250,000 km (vehicle, service-activated). Battery: 7 years or 150,000 km.

What an EV Service Includes

An EV has roughly 20 moving parts in its drivetrain compared to around 2,000 in a petrol car. No oil changes. No spark plugs. No fuel filters. No timing belts. No exhaust system. That is where the cost saving comes from.

A typical EV service covers:

• Battery health diagnostic: checks state of health, cell balance and thermal management
• Brake inspection: pad thickness, rotor condition, caliper function
• Tyre rotation and pressure check: critical for EVs because of uneven weight distribution
• Cabin air filter replacement: same as petrol cars, every 12 to 24 months
• Coolant system check: EVs have a sealed battery thermal management system using specialised coolant
• Software and firmware updates: some brands push these over the air, others require a service visit
• Multi-point safety inspection: suspension, steering, lights, wipers, 12V battery

Where the Real Costs Hide

Scheduled servicing is cheap. The items below are where EV owners report unexpected expenses.

Tyres: the biggest ongoing cost

EVs wear tyres faster than petrol cars. The combination of higher vehicle weight (batteries add 200 to 400 kg) and instant torque accelerates tread wear. Budget for tyre replacement every 40,000 to 50,000 km.

A full set of EV-rated tyres costs $800 to $1,400 depending on size and brand. Performance models with larger wheels (the Tesla Model Y Performance on 21-inch wheels, for example) push toward the top end. Tyre rotation every 8,000 to 10,000 km helps extend life.

Annualised at 15,000 km per year, tyres cost roughly $300 to $500 per year. That is higher than a typical petrol sedan. It is the one running cost where EVs consistently lose the comparison.

Brakes: cheaper than you expect

Regenerative braking handles most stopping force in an EV, converting kinetic energy back to electricity and sending it to the battery. Friction brakes are used primarily for hard stops and the final few km/h.

The result: brake pads on EVs last two to three times longer than on petrol cars. Some Tesla owners report original pads lasting past 100,000 km. Annual brake maintenance averages well under $100 when spread across the life of the car.

One catch: because the friction brakes are used less, corrosion can build up on rotors. Annual inspections should check for rust and caliper binding, not just pad thickness.

12V auxiliary battery

Every EV has a small 12V battery that powers the computer systems, door locks and safety features. It is separate from the main drive battery. It needs replacing every 3 to 5 years, and Australian heat shortens its life.

Replacement costs $150 to $400 depending on the vehicle. Tesla’s 12V lithium-ion battery costs more than a conventional lead-acid unit but also lasts longer. This is a minor cost, but it surprises owners who assume EVs have no battery replacement requirements.

Coolant

EV battery thermal management systems use a sealed coolant loop. Most manufacturers say the coolant does not need replacing over the normal life of the vehicle. Hyundai and Kia suggest checking at around 120,000 km. Tesla does not specify a replacement interval.

If coolant replacement is needed (rare), expect $200 to $400. Use only the manufacturer-specified fluid. Wrong coolant type can void the battery warranty.

Dealer vs Independent: Can You Save?

Independent mechanics can service EVs at 20 to 40 percent less than authorised dealers. But warranty implications vary by brand.

BYD: 275 mycar locations are authorised for logbook servicing nationally, giving the widest independent network.

Tesla: service centres and mobile service only. No authorised independent network in Australia.

Hyundai and Kia: authorised dealer network required for warranty-covered servicing.

MG: authorised dealers only. The 10-year warranty is conditional on dealer servicing.

Under Australian Consumer Law, manufacturers cannot void a warranty solely because you used a qualified independent mechanic, provided they used equivalent parts and followed the service schedule. In practice, disputes over warranty claims after independent servicing do occur, and the burden of proof can fall on the owner. For EVs still under warranty, authorised servicing is the safer choice.

EV vs Petrol: The Full Servicing Comparison

Cost item	EV (annual average)	Petrol (annual average)
Scheduled servicing	$226 to $558	$600 to $1,000
Tyres	$300 to $500	$200 to $350
Brakes	Under $100	$200 to $400
Fluids (oil, coolant, etc.)	Near zero	$100 to $200
Total maintenance	$600 to $1,100	$1,200 to $2,000

The total saving is roughly $500 to $1,000 per year. Over a five-year ownership period, that is $2,500 to $5,000 in lower servicing costs for the EV. Combined with lower fuel costs and the FBT exemption, servicing savings are a meaningful part of the EV ownership equation.

Warranty Comparison: Australia’s Top EV Brands

Brand	Vehicle warranty	Battery warranty	Roadside assist
Tesla	5 yr / unlimited km	8 yr / 160,000 to 192,000 km	Included
BYD	6 yr / 150,000 km	8 yr / 160,000 km	12 months
Hyundai	5 yr / unlimited km	8 yr / 160,000 km	12 months
Kia	7 yr / unlimited km	7 yr / 150,000 km	7 years
MG	10 yr / 250,000 km	7 yr / 150,000 km	10 years

MG’s 10-year warranty is the longest in the market but requires authorised dealer servicing. Tesla’s unlimited-km coverage (introduced January 2026) is the most generous on distance. Kia balances a strong 7-year term with an unlimited-km cap.

For the full picture on EV ownership costs including fuel, insurance and depreciation, see our EV total cost of ownership guide. Browse all models on our electric vehicles hub.

Frequently Asked Questions