What is the Cost of an Oil Change?

Determining an oil change cost can be difficult. Why? Because the cost depends entirely on where you take your car, or whether you’ve decided to do it yourself. Each method will cost you money, but the cost of having a professional change out your oil can vary greatly. Here’s a quick breakdown on approximately what you can expect to pay for an oil change.

One important thing to remember about changing your oil yourself is that the aforementioned $20 accounts only for the cost of parts which in this case is the replacement oil and filter. It doesn’t speak a word about how much time you might end up having to put into the effort, which can make all the difference in the world.

For example, if you decide to take a day off work to change your oil yourself, you might want to factor “lost wages” into the equation. For those who know what they’re doing, the job can be done in a jiffy. If you’re inexperienced and/or not mechanically inclined, you’ll wind up losing an entire day in the effort.

You’re going to have to take the extra step of properly disposing of your old oil once you’re done. The good news is that you won’t have to go far – most auto shops and even parts stores can take your old oil and filters off your hands for free.

The great benefit of taking your car to a place like Jiffy Lube is that it saves time. These shops operate on a first come, first served basis and can get you in and out if you’re in a hurry. The downside is that most only do oil changes and if you’re looking to have additional work done, you’ll have to take your vehicle elsewhere. But if you don’t want to do it yourself and you want to be in and out lightning fast, this may be your best option, cost-wise.

If spending an extra $15 to have someone who knows what they’re doing change your oil is worth it to you, then you may want to consider taking your car to a local mechanic instead of doing it yourself. The job is relatively easy and can usually be done within a half hour.

A lot of drivers like to take their cars to be serviced at the auto dealership where they bought their vehicle, but they’re usually a bit more expensive due to high overhead costs.

If you’re concerned about your warranty record, you can actually stay within the terms of your warranty if you have your car serviced by a mechanic not affiliated with the official dealership. If you’re good at keeping receipts and records, you can even stay within warranty requirements if you change your oil yourself.