Which Used Cars Still Have Free Maintenance?

Free scheduled maintenance is a nice perk that more automakers are adding as an incentive for buyers. The programs typically offer complimentary regular maintenance, such as oil changes and tire rotation, that range from as little as one visit to as much as five years of scheduled service. But do the deals carry over if you buy one of the vehicles as a used car?

For the most part, that’s a hard no. You’ll need to read the details of any coverage the car came with, but almost all free scheduled service programs cover only the initial buyer.

A couple of notable exceptions are BMW and Jaguar. Since the 2022 model year, BMW has allowed its three-year/36,000-mile free scheduled maintenance coverage to be transferred to subsequent owners. Jaguar’s overall Elite Care vehicle warranty, which runs to five years or 60,000 miles, includes complimentary scheduled maintenance for its term and is transferable, as well. Some other programs do make exceptions for title transfers within a family, however; older BMWs, for example, allow transfers to extended family members within a household, while Hyundai allows a transfer only from spouse to spouse.

Most free maintenance programs also are so limited in services or duration that they’ll have expired well before the vehicle shows up as a used car. For used-car buyers, a more important consideration is the vehicle’s bumper-to-bumper warranty that could cover more expensive repairs or defects. In most cases, any remaining coverage under the warranty’s time or mileage limits transfers to a second owner; again, read the fine print. Typically, though, neither a free maintenance offer nor the new-car warranty covers routine wear-and-tear items, such as wiper blades and brake pads.

Keeping in mind that such programs are subject to change at any time, here’s a look at free maintenance programs over the 2020-24 model years, excluding niche or exotic brands.

Acura, Honda

Starting with 2023 models, Honda and its premium brand Acura cover routine maintenance for two years or 24,000 miles.

Alfa Romeo

For model-years 2020-24, the Stellantis brand offers a complimentary first scheduled service for up to one year or 10,000 miles.

BMW, Mini

BMW and Mini provide regularly scheduled maintenance for three years or 36,000 miles — a typical lease term — for its model-year 2020-24 vehicles. For 2022 and later BMWs, the coverage is transferable to second owners up to the limits.

Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC

GM’s brands offer a complimentary first scheduled maintenance during the first year (up to two years for the Chevy Corvette to account for a break-in oil change).

Ford, Lincoln

These Ford brands do not have a designated free maintenance plan for 2020-24 models, though they have a rewards program that allots points to buyers of new vehicles and for purchases of other Fords, dealer goods and services. The points could also be used for scheduled maintenance. Separately, Lincoln’s top-level Black Label versions for its 2021-24 models have their own premium maintenance program of free scheduled service for four years, 50,000 miles or four service visits, whichever comes first.

Infiniti

Starting with 2023 models, this Nissan premium brand provides three years of scheduled maintenance services.

Hyundai, Genesis

Hyundai and its Genesis premium brand offer three years or 36,000 miles of free scheduled maintenance. The offer for Hyundais, however, began for 2020 models built after Feb. 1, 2020.

Jaguar

At the top of the heap for free service for 2020-24 models has been luxury brand Jaguar, which provided complimentary coverage for all factory-recommended scheduled maintenance for five years or 60,000 miles.

Jeep

Starting with 2021 models (and including select 2020s) and extending to 2023s, the Jeep Wave loyalty program of benefits included with Jeep vehicle purchases gave the initial buyers three free oil changes and tire rotations in the first 36 months of ownership. For any 2021-or-newer vehicle sold on or after July 17, 2023, and 2024 models, that was reduced to two visits in the first 24 months for all except the Grand Wagoneer, which still gets the original three free oil changes and tire rotations in the first three years of ownership.

Lexus

Toyota’s premium brand provides the first two scheduled maintenance visits free — one at six months or 5,000 miles and the second at one year or 10,000 miles.

Lucid

The startup luxury electric brand offers, from its 2022 Air rollout through 2025 models, two years or 24,000 miles of free scheduled maintenance purchased or leased from Feb. 15, 2024.

Mercedes-Benz

The luxury brand does not offer complimentary maintenance for its gasoline vehicles. However, since the debut of its EQS580 Sedan for 2022, it’s provided two years of free service for its all-electric vehicles.

Mitsubishi

Starting with its 2024 models, Mitsubishi offers three scheduled maintenance visits free within the first two years or 30,000 miles of ownership.

Polestar

The all-electric brand’s 2 hatchback (starting with its model-year 2021 debut) and 3 SUV (starting with 2024 models) are provided with free scheduled maintenance for three years or 30,000 miles.

Porsche

The sports car brand offers a complimentary first scheduled service visit for internal combustion vehicles at one year or 10,000 miles.

Subaru

Subaru does not offer complimentary service nationwide. However, it does offer free scheduled maintenance for two years or 24,000 miles to buyers in select, mostly Sun Belt, states.

Toyota

Toyota provides complimentary scheduled maintenance for two years or 25,000 miles for its 2020-24 models.

Volkswagen

For model-year 2020, new Volkswagen models came with free scheduled maintenance for two years or 24,000 miles; the latter was reduced to 20,000 miles for 2021.

Volvo

Volvos have complimentary scheduled maintenance for gasoline and plug-in hybrid vehicles for three years or 30,000 miles. Battery-electric Volvos (starting with the 2021 XC40 Recharge) have been covered with free scheduled maintenance for four years or 40,000 miles.

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