Insurance and maintenance add about $366 a month to the average financed new car, on top of a $777 loan payment. When people talk about their monthly car payment, they're usually referring to the loan payment alone. Insurance, routine maintenance, and unexpected repairs are additional expenses that aren't reflected in the monthly loan payment, so the payment alone can understate what a car costs. Flexcar offers a different way to have a car, with insurance and routine maintenance included.
The Short Answer
Insurance and maintenance can add about $366 a month to the cost of financing a new car: roughly $243 for full-coverage insurance and $123 for maintenance and repairs, based on national estimates. The maintenance figure is a monthly average, not a fixed bill. Flexcar is an alternative to buying or leasing with both included. Members choose Essential or Enhanced Protection, which includes insurance, with their monthly plan. The $249 annual membership covers routine maintenance, covered repairs, and 24/7 roadside assistance.
How much does a financed car really cost each month?
Beyond the monthly loan payment, owning a financed car also means budgeting for insurance, maintenance, and repairs. Edmunds put the average new-car payment at $777 in the second quarter of 2026. Experian puts full-coverage insurance at $2,912 a year, or $243 a month, and MoneyGeek, using AAA data, puts maintenance and repairs at $1,475 a year, or $123 a month.
Monthly cost | National average |
|---|---|
Loan payment on a new car | $777 |
Full-coverage insurance | $243 |
Maintenance and repairs | $123 |
Estimated total | $1,143 |
The $1,143 is an illustrative estimate built from national averages from different sources, not a complete cost of ownership. It leaves out fuel, taxes, registration, and depreciation. Maintenance and repair costs vary throughout the year depending on the vehicle, its age, and the service it needs. There's also the down payment, which Edmunds put at an average of $5,815 in the same quarter.
How insurance adds to the cost of financing a car
Insurance is the largest cost after the loan payment. Lenders require coverage on a financed car, and premiums can rise at renewal or after a claim.
With Flexcar, insurance is included with either Essential Protection or Enhanced Protection, which members select when choosing their car. Unlike financing a car, members don't need to shop for and manage a separate insurance policy. Protection is priced in the monthly payment. Liability coverage meets the state minimum. With Essential Protection, a member pays at most $2,000 or $3,000 per incident for damage to the car, depending on location. Enhanced Protection lowers that amount to $500 or $1,000 per incident and includes glass coverage for a higher monthly cost. Limits and exclusions apply. Learn more about Flexcar's protection plans.
How maintenance and repairs add to car ownership costs
The $123 estimate represents an average monthly cost. Actual maintenance and repair expenses vary throughout the year. Oil changes are small and regular. New tires, brake work, or an unexpected repair can cost far more at once, and once the factory warranty ends, more of those repairs come out of pocket.
With Flexcar, routine maintenance, tires replaced due to normal wear, covered repairs, and 24/7 roadside assistance are included with the $249 annual membership.
Buying versus Flexcar: Who pays for what?
Cost | Financing a car | Flexcar |
|---|---|---|
Vehicle payment | Monthly loan payment | Monthly vehicle price |
Insurance and protection | Separate policy you buy and manage | Insurance included with Essential or Enhanced Protection |
Routine maintenance | You pay the shop | Included with the annual membership |
Covered repairs | Warranty, then you | Included with the annual membership |
Roadside assistance | Depends on carmaker or insurer | Included with the annual membership |
Registration | You renew it | Included |
Mileage | No mileage plan | Choose a monthly mileage plan, roll over unused miles, and switch plans as your driving changes |
Down payment and upfront costs | Down payment, plus taxes and fees | No down payment. First monthly payment and applicable taxes due at checkout. Other charges, such as a refundable deposit or shipping fee, may apply |
Buying a car doesn't require choosing a mileage plan, while Flexcar members select a monthly mileage plan based on their needs. Members aren't locked into that plan. Unused miles roll over, and members can move up or down a plan in the Flexcar app when their driving changes. If they run out, more miles are added at their plan's rate. See how mileage plans work.
Comparing the cost of buying versus Flexcar: Hyundai Tucson
The $777 above is a national average for new-car financing. This is a separate estimate from Flexcar's savings calculator: a Hyundai Tucson on Flexcar compared with buying that same car from a dealer in Boston, for a person aged 25 to 34 with good credit, over five years. Buying uses a 60-month loan with 15% down at 9.04% APR, plus an extended warranty and GAP coverage. Flexcar uses the Cruiser mileage plan and Essential Protection. The figures average the Tucsons in Flexcar's fleet, with a median model year of 2025, each compared with buying the same car.
Estimated monthly cost | Buying the Tucson | Flexcar Tucson |
|---|---|---|
Car | $527 loan payment | $549 vehicle price to start, lower over time |
Insurance or protection | $209, matched to Essential | $207, Essential Protection |
Maintenance and repairs | $79 | Included with the membership |
Registration and car taxes | $23 | Included |
Roadside assistance | $9 | Included with the membership |
Average monthly cost over 5 years | $847 | $709 |
Paid upfront, beyond monthly costs | $4,477 down payment | $264 annual membership, with tax |
Flexcar's vehicle price starts above the loan payment here, and steps down after years two and four. The difference comes from maintenance, registration, and the upfront cost. Averages include taxes, fees, and membership renewals, and each side's first payment sits in the monthly figure, since Flexcar charges the first month at checkout. The buyer's $79 maintenance is below the national $123 because it's priced for this car, less what the warranty pays.
Your Flexcar price depends on factors such as the vehicle you choose, your location, mileage plan, and protection selection. Pricing and available options vary, so the best way to see what Flexcar would cost for you is to explore available vehicles and compare your options.
Comparing the total cost over five years
Monthly payments don't always reflect the full cost of having a car. Looking at the total cost over five years can provide a more complete comparison. Here, the buyer sells the Tucson at the end.
After 5 years (estimated) | Buying the Tucson | Flexcar Tucson |
|---|---|---|
Total payments | $55,285 | $42,784 |
Resale value of the bought car | $10,732 | Nothing to sell |
Net cost after resale | $44,553 | $42,784 |
Cost of capital | $1,973 | $0 |
Total modeled cost | $46,526 | $42,784 |
The difference is about $3,700, less than the $138 monthly gap times 60, because of the sale. The buyer pays about $12,500 more over five years, including the down payment, then gets $10,732 back. Cost of capital is what the extra money tied up in the car could have earned at the 4.97% Treasury yield.
Someone who pays off a loan and keeps the car for many years can spend less by buying, though insurance and repairs on an older car continue.
Conclusion
A monthly car payment is only one part of the cost of owning a car. Insurance, maintenance, repairs, and upfront expenses all affect what you'll actually spend.
With Flexcar, insurance comes with your protection plan, and routine maintenance and 24/7 roadside assistance come with the annual membership, offering another way to have a car of your own without buying or committing to a multiyear lease.
Want to see how the numbers compare? Use Flexcar's savings calculator to compare the cost of buying versus Flexcar.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does my Flexcar payment include?
Your monthly payment covers the vehicle, the mileage plan you choose, and insurance with Essential or Enhanced Protection. The $249 annual membership is charged separately and covers routine maintenance, covered repairs, 24/7 roadside assistance, and member benefits.
Does Flexcar include insurance and maintenance?
Yes. Insurance is included with Essential or Enhanced Protection, and routine maintenance, covered repairs, and roadside assistance are included with the annual membership. Limits, deductibles, and exclusions apply.
Can I change cars?
Yes. A standard swap is $199, subject to applicable terms. Member rewards may provide swap discounts or benefits, depending on eligibility.
Is a Flexcar really my own car?
You can use a Flexcar as your everyday car for as long as you keep it, without buying or leasing it. Flexcar owns the vehicle, so you don't have to sell it when your plans change.
Related reading
Savings are estimates from Flexcar's savings calculator (data as of October 2026) for the Hyundai Tucson in Boston (an average of the Tucsons in Flexcar's fleet, median model year 2025), for a person aged 25 to 34 with good credit driving about 15,000 miles a year over 5 years, using model-average prices. Flexcar figures include Essential Protection, the membership, modeled price step-downs, and the OnTrack discount for on-time payments and safe driving. Buying includes financing, ownership costs, an extended warranty and GAP, resale value, and cost of capital. Savings vary based on vehicle, location, financial assumptions, and individual circumstances, and aren't guaranteed. Mileage overages, vehicle damage, applicable taxes, fuel, tolls, swaps, and other charges may apply. Insurance limits, deductibles, and exclusions apply. Members can return their car without a multiyear commitment, subject to applicable terms. Availability varies. See the Membership Agreement.