The cost of grease, a key ingredient in engine lubricants, likely increased because it contains lithium — a crucial component in electric vehicle batteries.
Even as we exit the worst of the supply chain issues, costs for parts and maintenance services continue to grow — or at least that’s what you think every time you open a new bill from a vendor.
Now, you’ve got data to compare your costs to industry averages.
Fleetio, a fleet maintenance management software provider, has tabulated this comprehensive list of average services and parts costs for light- and medium-duty vehicles from its system.
Fleetio users uploaded this information via line items within work and repair orders. The data covers the first half of 2024 and compares to the second half of 2023.
As many factors affect individual fleet costs, this report is best used to identify large-scale trends over time. It should offer readers a baseline against which to compare current market averages and what they pay for services and parts.
Insights into Maintenance Cost Increases
Here are insights into some of the double-digit price increases:
Oil Changes: The cost of a diesel oil change (conventional) actually went down (16.1%) in the first half, while the cost of a regular gas oil change (conventional) went up (17.8%).
You might think that those services would be equally expensive, but keep in mind that diesel service costs 68% more than gas. The prices of diesel and gas have dropped since the second half of 2023, though diesel prices have dropped even more.
Refrigerant (11.2%): The cost of refrigerants has been spiking recently as the production stepdown of certain types of refrigerants is taking effect as part of new environmental regulations.
Environmental/Disposal (16.8%): This is likely a pass-through based on what vendors charge the maintenance shop to dispose of waste.
Diagnostics (12.1%): The cost of technician’s labor is ever-increasing.
Washer Fluid (17.6%): This price increase is not easy to identify, though as an add-on service, it could be a way for retail chains to make up for profits lost on a conventional gas oil change.
Grease (100% increase): Grease prices experienced the most alarming price increase. One reason may be that lithium is found in grease products, and demand for lithium, a crucial component in electric vehicle batteries, is set to increase by a factor of five over the next five years.
Overall, prices rose 7% in the first half of 2024 over the second half of 2023, or 4.8% without including the severe price spike in grease.
Fleetio Maintenance Cost Comparisons, H1 2024 Vs. H2 2023
| Most
Popular Service Tasks |
Average Service Cost | H2 2023 | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Conditioning Service | $150.64 | $139.66 | 7.9% |
| Air Filter Element | $44.92 | $42.36 | 6.1% |
| Battery | $176.25 | $172.12 | 2.4% |
| Brake Inspection | $15.24 | $14.04 | 8.6% |
| Brake Pads | $156.71 | $152.11 | 3.0% |
| Brake Rotors/Discs | $305.10 | $279.13 | 9.3% |
| Cabin Air Filter | $42.99 | $41.64 | 3.2% |
| Coolant | $48.42 | $46.63 | 3.8% |
| Coolant Flush | $99.98 | $98.00 | 2.0% |
| Diagnostics | $217.59 | $194.10 | 12.1% |
| Diesel Fuel Filter | $88.48 | $83.52 | 5.9% |
| Diesel Oil Change -
Conventional |
$74.49 | $88.80 | -16.1% |
| Diesel Oil Change – Full
Synthetic |
$102.71 | $100.79 | 1.9% |
| Diesel Oil Change – Semi
Synthetic |
$111.00 | $104.53 | 6.2% |
| DOT Inspection | $114.66 | $111.83 | 2.5% |
| Drive Belt | $100.18 | $96.00 | 4.4% |
| Environmental / Disposal | $12.60 | $10.79 | 16.8% |
| Flat Repair | $24.89 | $24.62 | 1.1% |
| Fuel / Water Separator | $79.15 | $74.75 | 5.9% |
| Fuel Filter | $48.14 | $48.19 | -0.1% |
| Grease | $41.89 | $20.92 | 100.2% |
| Hydraulic Filter | $36.74 | $35.59 | 3.2% |
| Miscellaneous | $290.85 | $289.00 | 0.6% |
| Oil Change -
Conventional |
$62.94 | $53.43 | 17.8% |
| Oil Change – Full
Synthetic |
$64.24 | $61.71 | 4.1% |
| Oil Change – Semi
Synthetic |
$51.98 | $50.13 | 3.7% |
| Rear Differential
Service |
$116.34 | $114.70 | 1.4% |
| Refrigerant | $87.47 | $78.66 | 11.2% |
| Replace Brake Fluid | $89.59 | $85.67 | 4.6% |
| Road Service | $250.30 | $234.60 | 6.7% |
| Shop Supplies | $29.76 | $27.78 | 7.1% |
| Spark Plug | $212.00 | $203.34 | 4.3% |
| State / Province
Inspection |
$27.97 | $25.93 | 7.9% |
| Tire Alignment | $106.19 | $102.13 | 4.0% |
| Tire Disposal Fee | $12.88 | $12.50 | 3.0% |
| Tire Replacement | $508.72 | $504.25 | 0.9% |
| Tire Rotation | $22.17 | $20.29 | 9.3% |
| TPMS Service Valve Kit | $12.71 | $11.75 | 8.1% |
| Transmission Flush | $170.79 | $175.27 | -2.6% |
| Washer Fluid | $6.98 | $5.93 | 17.6% |
| Wheel Balancing | $54.13 | $52.63 | 2.9% |
| Windshield | $286.41 | $278.45 | 2.9% |
| Wiper Blade | $31.08 | $31.94 | -2.7% |
