Suze Orman Urges Drivers Not To Skip Car Maintenance. Says It’s ‘One Of The Smartest Financial Moves You Can Make This Year’

With car prices still high and interest rates making monthly payments painful, personal finance expert Suze Orman has a simple message for drivers: take care of the car you already have.

Orman argues that spending money on routine car maintenance is not wasted cash. She calls it “one of the smartest financial moves you can make this year,” especially for households that depend on one or two vehicles just to function day to day.

Skipping maintenance might feel like saving money in the moment, but Orman says it usually does the opposite.

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“The longer you can keep your car humming and reliable, the longer you can avoid needing to purchase your next car,” Orman wrote in a recent blog post. 

Insurance is another overlooked piece of the puzzle. Orman told readers that premiums have climbed sharply over the past few years. Buying a newer car typically results in higher insurance costs, while keeping an older but dependable vehicle can help keep premiums down.

She acknowledged that maintenance bills can be uncomfortable. “I know it may be hard to face a maintenance bill of a few hundred dollars or even more. I get it,” Orman wrote. But she stressed that the alternative is far more expensive.

She estimated that every dollar skipped on maintenance today can result in $4 to $10 in repairs later, as small issues turn into major ones when they are ignored.

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Brake pads are a simple example. Replacing them early may cost a few hundred dollars, but waiting too long can cause serious damage and create safety risks. Orman said the same logic applies to oil changes and coolant levels, which help prevent costly engine problems. For gas-powered cars, clean air filters and good spark plugs can even improve fuel efficiency.

Orman said consistent upkeep can extend a car’s life by 20% to 40%. Even spending $2,000 in a year on deferred maintenance, she said, is still less than what most drivers would pay in just a few months of car loan payments.

She wasclear about one thing. “I never want you to keep driving a car that is unsafe,” she said. But for cars that are fundamentally sound, she urged drivers to do everything possible to keep them reliable.

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