For many of us, we dream of owning a certain vehicle years before it can become a reality. Luxury cars are the epitome of style, comfort, and class, but they come with a cost. While many buyers are focused on the upfront price of the car, it can be easy to forget that many of the fees are often hidden behind the sheen of a new vehicle.  

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The reality of owning a luxury vehicle is often quite different from what people imagine. It's not just the upfront cost of an expensive car – many other expenses associated with owning a luxury car can add up over time. 

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In this blog post, we’re going to explore the true cost of owning a luxury vehicle and how you can make smart choices to bring that overall cost of ownership down.. 

Auto Insurance is More Expensive

This one may not be a surprise, but the general rule of thumb is that the more expensive the vehicle, and more expensive your auto insurance will be. Insurance for a luxury vehicle can cost up to three times more than your average sedan. This is usually justified on the basis of higher repair and maintenance costs, but there’s more to it than that. Luxury vehicles are also often hot targets for theft, which can increase the risk and cost of theft insurance. To keep insurance premiums at a minimum, your best bet is to shop around and compare quotes from different providers before making a choice. A clean driving record will also help, but we can’t help much with that one!

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Maintenance Costs Can be Higher

Luxury cars need regular maintenance like any other car, including oil changes, tire rotations, and brake pad replacements. However, these services can cost more for luxury cars, as they may require specialized parts or a more skilled mechanic.  Luxury cars also have more complex electronics and features that require additional maintenance. As a result, many shops will charge a premium to work on your vehicle, since they’ll want to take extra care to treat it well! This is great because it means you’ll end up with really high quality work, but you’ll be paying for it at the end of the day.

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Rapid Depreciation

According to a study by Kelley Blue Book, luxury cars can lose up to 60% of their value within the first five years of ownership. If you decide to sell your luxury vehicle after a few years, you might be surprised at its steep drop in value. Luxury vehicles are more depreciable partly because their high maintenance costs make them less appealing to future used-car buyers, not to mention the fact they have a much smaller market in general. The fast pace of technological advancement and the fact that luxury cars are seen as a status symbol also means that buyers will always be more interested in newer models with updated features, so selling it may be difficult unless it’s particularly rare and hard to get.

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Replacement Parts are Hard to Find

Luxury cars come with unique parts that are hard to find. If a part needs replacing, it can take longer to find a particular part, adding to its cost, as well as the expertise required to install new parts. This can sometimes result in higher prices and longer wait times if you do need something repaired down the line. 

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To avoid this, it’s a great idea to find a couple shops near you that specialize in your particular vehicle make. These shops will often have a few reliable sources for specialty parts, and may be able to get access to them faster than your average mechanic.

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Expensive Windshield Replacements

Luxury cars often have advanced windshield features like heads-up displays and rain sensors, making windshield replacement more expensive. The cost of windshield replacement for a luxury car can be as much as 4x higher than for a regular car, making it a significant expense that many luxury car owners do not anticipate.

Fortunately there are solutions to the expensive windshield replacement problem: an invisible, protective film that fits on any car to shield the windshield from damage, like ExoShield. These films are made of high-quality materials that withstand rocks and other debris impacts, without compromising the overall look of your vehicle. It can also protect against UV rays and make cleaning the windshield easier. Films like ExoShield are ideal for luxury vehicle owners since you’re probably more likely to take great care of your vehicle, which means you’ll be able to get the most out of your windshield protection film.

While we always encourage investing in your dream car, it’s important to know what you’re getting yourself into before you buy. Keeping these factors in mind will likely help you be more proactive when it comes to care and maintenance, which will all help in the long run!