The Real Cost of Owning and Driving a Smart Car

Photo by Lance Asper

Originally Posted On: The Real Cost of Owning and Driving a Smart Car – A Dime Saved

Aren’t Smart Cars little beautiful little machines? They come in small compact sizes that make them easy to park anywhere in urban areas. That’s right; in congested towns, you don’t want to spend hours looking for a parking spot or fight for one with a rude driver when you go shopping.

They are also convenient and fuel-efficient enough to beat a typical vehicle. That’s particularly true when you go with a Smart Car Fortwo electric drive. You can save a lot of gas money and keep the environment clean as you drive around to your errands.

Surprisingly, Smart Cars boast of quick acceleration when you take off and immediate acceleration at slow speeds. You also get to enjoy fun and distinctive interior design because, let’s face it, we’re talking about Mercedes-Benz here. Plus, using your smartphone screen for infotainment is also a swell idea.

However, are Smart Cars worth your time and effort? What’s the true cost of owning a Smart Car? And is a Smart Car a better option than, say, a typical SUV that’s way better for the city as well as rough roads? How much does it cost to maintain a Smart Car? How about insurance? All in all, how much cash will you have to spend?

In today’s post, we answer all the above questions so that you can decide whether a Smart Car is worth buying. Keep in mind Smart Cars don’t come cheap, even with the tiny size. They are also more delicate to maintain than, say, a Toyota Camry. However, they are cheap to insure, which is great news if you’re looking to save on auto insurance.

Without further ado, let us start.

The first thing you obviously want to consider when buying a Smart Car is the selling price. So, how much does a brand-new Smart Car cost? And for such a small car, doesn’t it make more sense to spend your money on a different type of car?

Unfortunately, Smart Cars are no longer sold in the United States of America (USA) since 2019, according to the official website, smartusa.com. However, don’t worry if you already own a Smart Car – Mercedes-Benz dealerships will continue providing service and spare parts for both gasoline- and electric-powered Smart Fortwo models.

But how much does a Smart Car cost to buy? According to Edmunds.com, a used 2018 Smart Car Fortwo costs about $9,250 dollars to drive off the lot. For that amount, you can get other car models such as a used 2009 Mercedes-Benz E-Class, 2012 Honda Fit, and 2010 Toyota Avalon, among others.

A brand new 2020 Smart Car ForFour Hatchback will set you back about $28,230 in the UK. It’s a great and compact family car for city dwellers, but is it better than, say, a brand-new 2021 Chevrolet Equinox? Keep in mind there are many cars you can get under $30,000 in 2020 and beyond.

So, basically, a brand-new Smart Car costs about $10,000 bucks in the US. A brand-new Smart Car costs about $30,000 – give or take. For that price range, do you think you can get something bigger and maybe bigger? Perhaps, driving a Smart Car isn’t all about utility but the passion.

Smart Cars are expensive to buy, especially the new models. If you live in the US, you must import these new models from countries where they are still sold. If you don’t mind an older model, you can find a used Smart Car at your local car dealership.

But how much does it cost to maintain a Smart Car?

We’ve already established Smart Cars don’t come cheap. But how much does it cost to maintain a Smart Car? How many times per year do you need to take in a Smart Car for service? And how much do spare parts cost?

“Well, according to Edmunds, it will cost you about $5,640 to maintain a Smart Fortwo car over the course of five years if you drive only 15,000 miles per year. It’s just an estimate, but you get the picture. On average, it costs about $1,400 per year to maintain a Smart car for ordinary service.” –  Carnewscafe.com

What about a typical vehicle? How does it cost to maintain? Well, according to a study by AAA, a new car’s routine maintenance and repairs could cost an average of $1,186 each year. That’s why it’s important to budget for this expense.

Don’t forget that “the average cost of owning a car ranges from $6,354 annually for a small sedan to $10,054 annually for a pickup truck. The expected cost of routine maintenance may surprise you.” – Balance.com.

If we are using average, that’s about $8,000 for a typical car. But don’t forget that the cost of maintaining a typical car can be as slow as $1,200 per year. It goes to say that maintaining a Smart Car costs as much as maintaining a typical car. There are no big disparities.

A Smart Car is sensitive and requires regular maintenance, you know, just like any other type of car. Check every part regularly, and please visit a registered Mercedes-Benz dealer for the best service. You can try servicing your Smart Car, but unless you know what you’re doing, just don’t do it.

Maintenance aside, how much does a Smart Car cost to insure?

If you’re looking to save money on your car insurance, you’ll be glad to learn that Smart Cars are some of the cheapest types of vehicles to insure. Yeah, Smart Cars might be sophisticated and expensive, but they are relatively cheaper to insure than typical automobiles.

According to an article by Zebra.com, “the average cost of Smart car insurance is less than $1,000 per year. That’s less than the national average cost of auto insurance. If you want to save on auto insurance premiums for your Smart Fortwo or Smart Fortwo electric drive, consider Progressive or GEICO, which offer the most affordable premiums for these models.”

That’s definitely great news for any driver who wants to save some money on their car insurance. At the same time, always ensure you have adequate coverage from a reputable insurance company. Just don’t go with the cheapest offer out there, and you’re good to go.