How much car maintenance costs per year in Romania
All the real yearly costs of a car in Romania: insurance, inspection, road tax, servicing, tyres, fuel and local tax. Plus how to keep them in one place.
The purchase price is only the start. The real cost shows up month after month, in small pieces that look trivial on their own but add up fast. Here is every maintenance cost an ordinary car has in Romania over a year — and roughly how much each one is.
The unavoidable costs
- RCA — the mandatory liability insurance. Depending on your age, city and history, anywhere from a few hundred to over 1,000 lei/year.
- Rovinieta (road tax) — about €28/year for a passenger car.
- ITP (inspection) — once every 2 years for cars, roughly 100–250 lei.
- Local car tax — depends on engine size, usually from a few tens to a few hundred lei/year.
Routine maintenance
This is what keeps the car running well and out of the workshop:
- Annual service (oil, filters, checks) — roughly 400–900 lei, depending on model and workshop.
- Tyres — a summer set plus a winter set, spread over a few years, works out to a few hundred lei/year, plus the seasonal swap.
- Consumables — brake pads, wipers, bulbs, screen wash. Small, but they add up.
Fuel — usually the biggest expense
Fuel depends on how many kilometres you drive and how thirsty the car is. A simple example: at 15,000 km/year, 7 litres/100 km and an average fuel price, you reach a few thousand lei a year just on refuelling. It is often more than all the other costs combined.
Unexpected repairs
Nobody plans for them, but they happen: a bearing, a sensor, the clutch, the timing belt. On an older car, an emergency fund of a few hundred to a few thousand lei a year is realistic. On a new one, less — but never zero.
So, what does it cost in total?
For an ordinary car used normally, a realistic total often reaches several thousand lei a year — sometimes much more if a big repair comes up. The exact figure is different for everyone, and the only way to know yours is to track it.
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Start for freeÎntrebări frecvente
What is the biggest expense on a car?
For most drivers, fuel. It depends on the kilometres you drive and the car’s consumption, and it often exceeds all the other costs combined.
How much should I set aside monthly for the car?
A practical rule is to divide your mandatory and maintenance costs by 12 and add a small repair fund. You find the exact figure by tracking your real expenses for a few months.
Is it worth tracking car expenses?
Yes. Without tracking, most people underestimate the real cost. When you see the monthly total, you can make better decisions — from your driving style to when to change the car.