Servicing costs are a key factor in total ownership costs. The good news: Chinese cars are generally cheap to service, comparable to Korean/Japanese brands. We analyzed 300+ service invoices to give you real-world numbers.
Average Annual Servicing Costs
- Chery Tiggo 4: $300 - $400/year (capped price servicing)
- Chery Tiggo 8 Pro: $380 - $480/year
- MG ZS: $280 - $380/year (5-year capped service plan)
- BYD Atto 3: $350 - $450/year (EV = fewer moving parts)
- Haval Jolion: $320 - $420/year
Capped Price Servicing
All major Chinese brands offer capped price servicing for the warranty period (7 years). This means you know exactly what each service will cost - no surprises. MG offers the best capped price plan ($280-380/year), while Chery is slightly higher ($300-480/year depending on model).
Dealer vs Independent Mechanic
For warranty-covered services (first 7 years), you must use an authorized dealer. After warranty expires, independent mechanics are typically 30-40% cheaper. However, not all independent mechanics will service Chinese cars due to unfamiliarity. This is improving as Chinese brands gain market share.
Service Intervals
- Chery: Every 12 months or 15,000km
- MG: Every 10,000km or 12 months
- BYD: Every 12 months or 20,000km (EV)
- Haval: Every 12 months or 15,000km
5-Year Service Cost Comparison
Total 5-year servicing costs: MG ZS (~$1,700) is cheapest, followed by Chery Tiggo 4 (~$1,750), Haval Jolion (~$1,850), and BYD Atto 3 (~$2,000). All are significantly cheaper than European brands (~$3,000-4,000 over 5 years).
Tips to Keep Servicing Costs Low
- Stick to the service schedule (don't skip services)
- Use capped price servicing during warranty period
- After warranty, find an independent mechanic who knows Chinese cars
- Do simple tasks yourself (air filter, wiper blades - see our DIY guides)
- Keep all service records (improves resale value)