How Much You Should Actually Be Paying For An Oil Change – SlashGear

Oil changes have a price tag that is intimately linked to the type of oil that your car needs in order to continue running. Nerd Wallet reports that a typical oil change and filter replacement will cost between $20 and $100. This is the standard service and makes use of conventional oil.

KBB also suggests that a car running with synthetic oil rather than conventional oil often sees a price tag ranging between $65 and $125 for the same service. However, synthetic oil lasts longer (up to as many as 15,000 miles versus the 5,000 to 7,500 mark for conventional oil, according to MetroMile) and so an oil change with this formula won’t be required as often as one that uses conventional oil. All in all, the cost of continuous oil changes typically comes out in a wash, regardless of the oil type that your car takes.

However, this doesn’t change the price that you pay on the day. Therefore, budgeting for an oil change based on the type of car that you drive is a critical part of the calculation. Even though you’ll recover your costs over time if you need synthetic oil, the price tag can sting if you aren’t prepared for the upcharge, especially if this is your first oil change with a new car that requires the premium product.