between insurance and tax up to 4,500 euros per year. Worse for diesels from 2026

Car carriageIt costs money between insurance, road tax and maintenance 4,500 euros per year. And in 2026 it will get worse for those who drive diesels. How to defend yourself from increases. In 2026, maintaining a car in Italy will cost even more, especially for those who drive diesel engines and for those who will have to renew their car insurance, while petrol and road tax will remain under pressure but with more subtle effects. But how much will the motorist have to pay? Between insurance, fuel, road tax, maintenance and repairs by the mechanic, the average amount will be 4,500 euros per year. In 2026 the most insidious item will be car insurance, driven by new tax increases on companies and on ancillary guarantees.

An amendment to the Budget Law provides for an increase in IRAP on insurance companies and above all an increase in the rate on the “driver accident” guarantee from 2.5% to 12.5%, with effect on contracts stipulated or renewed from 1 January.

Operators estimate significant increases at the time of renewal for around 1.5 million motorists, in a market in which the average TPL premium has already risen to around 480 euros, with increases of more than 30% compared to 2022. Obviously those who have had accidents in 2025 are the most exposed to a new increase in premiums, while for those in virtuous classes, i.e. who have not had accidents, the watchword will be to compare the offers and evaluate deductibles and non-mandatory coverage. There is a lot of competition between companies and you shouldn’t stop at the first proposal.

FUELS

From 1 January 2026 the “fiscal geography” of fuels will change: petrol and diesel will have the same excise duty, set at 672.9 euros per thousand litres, eliminating the historical advantage of diesel. The immediate consequence will be a slight reduction in the pump price for petrol (around 4 cents per litre) and a corresponding increase for diesel, which will particularly affect those who travel many kilometers in diesel cars or light commercial vehicles. According to the calculations of consumer associations, today the tax component weighs 60% on the price of petrol and over 56% on that of diesel: the alignment of excise duties consolidates this picture, making the choice of the type of fuel even more decisive at the time of purchasing or changing the car. In concrete terms, on a 50-litre tank a diesel driver could end up spending around 2-3 euros more than in 2025, with the same industrial price and VAT. On the car tax front, no upheavals are expected, with the amounts continuing to depend on power and environmental class, but in a context of general increase in costs, keeping old and polluting cars alive becomes increasingly less convenient. For those who own more than one car, the sum of micro-increases on road tax, inspections and minor maintenance can become one of the factors that push them to reduce their home car fleet or evaluate rental formulas.

MECHANICAL

Ordinary maintenance continues to represent an important portion of the car budget: for a thermal car, between services, filters, oil and small interventions, it ranges on average from just under 300 euros to over 700-800 euros per year, depending on mileage, model and assistance network. In recent years, again according to consumer associations, the price lists of spare parts and labor have grown more than inflation, with an average increase in spending on ordinary maintenance of 3-4% per year and an increase in spare parts costs of around 2.5%. Even extraordinary repairs have an impact: estimates for 2024 indicate around 390 euros per year on average between breakdowns, replacements and bodywork, a figure which could rise further in 2026 thanks to increasingly pervasive electronics and the difficulty in finding low-cost parts.

GREEN

In this context, electric cars show a different cost structure: fewer mechanical components subject to wear, annual maintenance estimated between 130 and 300 euros, but with the battery node in the long-term horizon. A blow that many don’t consider.
In summary, the main available analyzes indicate that maintaining a car costs 4,000–4,500 euros per year, including fuel, insurance, road tax, maintenance, inspections, parking and tolls, with a monthly average approaching 350–400 euros per vehicle. With the expected increases in car insurance, diesel, overhaul and labour, the threshold could exceed 5,000 euros per year and become the new normal for “typical” motorists who travel 20-25 thousand kilometers per year.

HOW TO DEFEND YOURSELF

To defend yourself, there are three possible paths: carefully compare insurance policies, evaluate the transition to less energy-intensive cars or alternative fuel systems, and consider, especially for those who clock up many kilometres, formulas such as long-term rental which include third-party insurance, maintenance and sometimes tires in a fixed fee.