Toyota Yaris Tune-Up & Maintenance Costs? (Complete Guide)

Despite being discontinued in 2020 the Toyota Yaris is still one of the most popular subcompact cars.

With its great reliability and fun driving characteristics, it’s not hard to imagine why.

In this article we’ll give you the full rundown of its maintenance, tune-up and running costs.

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Here is the short answer to are Toyota Yaris expensive to maintain:

The Toyota Yaris has very affordable maintenance costs. It would cost you around $333 to maintain a Yaris every year, which is significantly lower than the average of $456 annually for subcompact cars. A tune-up will be around $204, including the replacement of spark plugs.

Are Toyota Yaris Expensive to Maintain?

The Yaris is a great value car, and that is one of its big advantages.

When looking to buy a new vehicle it’s important to assess maintenance costs to ensure you’re able to properly look after it.

Failing to stay on top of routine servicing and repairs will lead to poor reliability and shorten the lifespan of your car.

Below you’ll find a complete price breakdown for some of the most common costs for the Yaris, all data is from RepairPal:

Yaris Maintenance	Cost
Average annual repairs and maintenance	$333
Tune-Up Cost	$204
Alternator replacement	$325 – $452
Oil change	$91 – $100
Wiper blade replacement	$140
Air filter replacement	$38 – $46
Battery replacement	$250
New brakes	$237 – $258
Coolant change	$77 – $97
New tires (set of 4)	$600 – $1400
New tire (one only)	$150 – $350
New spark plugs	$76 – $114
Tire & wheel assembly rotate & balance	$79 – $100
New transmission	$1800 – $3400
Tune-up	$204
Insurance	$1260 / year (average)

How Much is a Tune-Up on a Yaris?

This will vary greatly depending on where you take your car and you’ll likely have to pay more at a Toyota dealership than your local mechanic.

Toyota recommends having a tune-up every 5,000 miles or every six months, whichever comes first.

You can expect to pay in the region of $204 for a fairly comprehensive Yaris tune-up that includes, but is not limited to:

Replacement of plugs, wires and other parts in the ignition system
Thorough inspection of engine components
Thorough inspection of belts and hoses
Filters changed e.g. oil, fuel, air, and cabin.
Fluids changed where needed e.g. engine oil, coolant, brake fluid, transmission fluid, and power steering fluid.

Whilst your car is under warranty it is advised you get it serviced at a registered Toyota dealership.

Regular tune-ups are highly recommended because:

They can bring more power back to your engine.
Helps your engine run efficiently and start smoothly, which equates to lower emissions and better fuel economy.
Ensures long-term engine health and performance

Alternator Replacement Cost?

A new alternator on a Yaris will set you back between $325 – $452 for a replacement which should last around 80,000 to 150,000 miles or 5 – 10 years

While the battery is used for starting your car when the engines off, the alternator keeps your car alive when the engine is running.

The alternator powers most electronic components while you’re driving around or idling and is also responsible for charging the battery of your car while driving.

Oil Change Cost?

The cost of an oil change should cost in the region of $91 to $100, this includes parts and labor, however does not include taxes and fees. An oil change is one of the most meaningful and vital services for your car.

An oil change should be performed on the Yaris every 3,000 – 5,000 miles for conventional oil.

Synthetic oil typically should be changed every 7,500 – 10,000 miles.

At most, oil change intervals should not exceed 10,000 miles or twelve months.

Wiper Blade Replacement Cost?

This is a relatively simple and quick fix, and you can easily save yourself a few bucks by buying your own wiper blades and installing them yourself, there are plenty of YouTube tutorials on this.

Most Toyota Yaris use a 26″ wiper blade for the driver side and a 14″ for the passenger side but be sure to double-check first.

Wiper blades for the Toyota Yaris can be picked up for around $30, and installed by yourself for free.

However, if you want a professional to fit them for you then you can expect to pay in the region of $140 for parts and labor with taxes and fees on top.

Air Filter Replacement Cost?

According to RepairPal, air filter replacement cost on a Toyota Yaris is between $38 to $46, not including taxes and fees.

The good news is this task, which should be performed annually or whenever the filter is clogged or dirty, is another fairly straightforward DIY.

Simply open the hood, locate and open the air filter’s housing, remove the old one, insert the new one and replace the housing cover.

This will help both your car and your bank account breathe a little easier, lots of tutorials on YouTube for this one also.

Battery Replacement Cost?

According to RepairPal, the cost of a battery replacement for a Toyota Yaris should cost around $250 for parts and labor.

Whilst there are no specific mileage recommendations for when a battery needs to be replaced, they do eventually die.

In general, it’s a good idea to replace your battery once every 4-5 years.

A vehicle’s battery life varies depending on many different factors such as climate, driving habits, and battery type, among many others.

To help your battery last longer:

Keep your battery tightly fastened: The vibrations of your car can loosen the connections, potentially resulting in short circuits and internal damage.
Limit short rides: Short rides prevent the battery from fully charging.
Control Corrosion: Clean the terminals (toothbrush dipped in baking soda and water mixture) and keep them free from build-up.

New Brakes Cost?

Toyota Yaris brake pads can last anywhere between 30,000 to 60,000 miles and necessary brake work isn’t a cost you can afford to neglect.

The average cost to replace your Yaris brake pads, according to RepairPal, is between $237 and $258.

Brake pads will wear out at different rates depending on factors such as climate and your style of driving.

Pro tip: To prolong the life of your brakes – Keep your speed low in heavy traffic and avoid any sudden braking.

Cost to Change Coolant?

If it’s just a top-up your car requires then this is a simple task you can perform yourself.

You can pick up coolant at any gas station for a few bucks and top up to the level required.

If on the other hand, you require a coolant change, which simply involves draining the coolant from the base of the radiator and then replenishing with fresh fluids, this is going to cost you a bit more.

According to RepairPal, the average cost of a Toyota Yaris coolant change is between $77 and $97 (excluding taxes and fees).

You may also be interested in our article: How Long Do Toyota Yaris Last?

How Much Does a New Transmissions Cost?

Transmissions on the Toyota Yaris typically last 10 – 14 years or around 150,000 to 200,000 miles, depending on how well they are maintained and how the car is driven.

The average cost for an aftermarket or rebuilt transmission for a Yaris is anywhere from $1800 – $3400. This range may vary depending on the model year.

Tire & Wheel Assembly, Rotate & Balance Cost

According to RepairPal, the average cost for a Toyota Yaris tire & wheel assembly rotate & balance is between $79 and $100 – this does not include taxes and fees.

Tire rotate ensures each tire gets worn evenly whilst balancing ensures they roll smoothly and there’s no vibration (this also helps improve your fuel economy).

How much Insurance Cost?

According to insruaviz.com, the average cost of Toyota Yaris insurance is $105 / month or $1260 / year (compared to the subcompact class average cost of $1419).

These figures can vary greatly depending on a number of factors such as your age, driving record and state requirements etc.

It’s always best to shop around and get at least 3 quotes, make sure the company you choose is reputable.

Toyota Yaris Repair Costs Compared to Similar Cars

Model	Avg. Annual Repair Cost	Frequency of Unscheduled Repairs	Probability of Severe Repairs
Toyota Yaris	$333	0.4	6%
Toyota Prius C	$383	0.36	7%
Mazda2	$449	0.3	7%
Honda Fit	$390	0.4	8%
Hyundai Accent	$444	0.2	8%
Kia Rio	$434	0.2	9%
Mitsubishi Mirage	$457	0.1	9%
Mazda MX-5 Miata	$429	0.3	10%
Nissan Versa	$456	0.4	11%
Chevrolet Spark	$434	0.3	11%
Chevrolet Sonic	$536	0.4	11%
Chevrolet Aveo	$616	0.2	11%
Ford Fiesta	$552	0.4	11%
Fiat 500	$522	0.2	17%
Mini Cooper Countryman	$652	0.59	11%
Mini Cooper	$846	0.62	13%
Avg. Subcompact Car	$456	0.3	11%

You may also be interested in our article: Toyota Yaris Beeping? (11 Common Causes)

How Long is the Toyota Yaris’s Manufacturers Warranty?

When you drive your new Toyota Yaris off the dealership lot, you’ll be covered by Toyotas factory warranty of 36,000 miles / 3 years basic coverage and 60,000 miles / 5 years (whichever comes first) powertrain coverage.

You can check your vehicle warranty status, track your service history, view your Owner’s Manual and more on Toyotas website, you’ll need your 17 digit VIN.

If you cannot find the VIN number, the only real way to check your vehicle’s factory warranty is to call or visit your local dealership.

How Reliable is the Toyota Yaris Compared to Other Cars?

According to data from Repair Pal, the Toyota Yaris is the most reliable subcompact car.

Model	Reliability
Toyota Yaris	4.5/5.0
Toyota Prius C	4.5/5.0
Mazda2	4.5/5.0
Honda Fit	4.5/5.0
Hyundai Accent	4.5/5.0
Kia Rio	4.5/5.0
Mitsubishi Mirage	4.5/5.0
Mazda MX-5 Miata	4.0/5.0
Nissan Versa	4.0/5.0
Chevrolet Spark	4.0/5.0
Chevrolet Sonic	4.0/5.0
Chevrolet Aveo	4.0/5.0
Ford Fiesta	4.0/5.0
Fiat 500	3.5/5.0
Mini Cooper Countryman	3.5/5.0
Mini Cooper	3.0/5.0
Avg. Subcompact Car	4.0/5.0

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Author:

Ian Sawyer

Growing up with a father who was a mechanic I had an appreciation for cars and motorcycles from an early age. I shared my first bike with my brother that had little more than a 40cc engine but it opened up a world of excitement for me, I was hooked. As I grew older I progressed onto bigger bikes and...

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