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Should I keep my Nissan Altima?
Keeping an 8-year-old (2018) Nissan Altima at typical mileage costs about $4,703 a year: $846 in value it loses, $1,073 insurance, $1,320 fuel, $1,364 maintenance and repairs and $100 registration. A new one costs about $8,378 a year to own, mostly because new cars lose value faster.
By model year
What a Nissan Altima costs to keep, by year
Next 12 months for a paid-off car at 12,000 miles a year, average insurance costs, $3.30 gas. Click a year to run your own numbers in Keep or Switch.
| Year | Value today | Cost to keep next year | Value lost | Maintenance and repairs | Efficiency | Repair complaints |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $21,476 | $6,054 | $2,619 | $722 | 30 MPG | About average |
| 2024 | $18,291 | $5,467 | $2,032 | $743 | 30 MPG | About average |
| 2023 | $15,771 | $5,269 | $1,725 | $891 | 30 MPG | About average |
| 2022 | $13,625 | $4,933 | $1,434 | $923 | 31 MPG | About average |
| 2021 | $11,825 | $4,890 | $1,159 | $1,163 | 30 MPG | About average |
| 2020 | $10,346 | $4,929 | $1,125 | $1,264 | 30 MPG | About average |
| 2019 | $8,944 | $4,715 | $873 | $1,327 | 30 MPG | About average |
| 2018 | $7,830 | $4,703 | $846 | $1,364 | 30 MPG | Fewer than average |
| 2017 | $6,774 | $4,596 | $616 | $1,508 | 30 MPG | About average |
| 2016 | $5,973 | $4,711 | $597 | $1,660 | 30 MPG | More than average |
| 2015 | $5,215 | $4,660 | $521 | $1,633 | 29 MPG | Fewer than average |
| 2014 | $4,552 | $4,715 | $455 | $1,746 | 28 MPG | About average |
| 2013 | $3,974 | $4,890 | $397 | $1,885 | 26 MPG | About average |
| 2012 | $3,469 | $5,143 | $347 | $2,110 | 25 MPG | More than average |
| 2011 | $3,029 | $5,184 | $303 | $2,208 | 25 MPG | More than average |
Should you keep it?
Keeping vs replacing your Nissan Altima
- Cheapest year to keep: 2017, at about $4,596 a year.
- Most repair-heavy complaints: 2012, based on NHTSA owner complaints about the engine, transmission, electrical and fuel systems compared with similar cars that year.
- Fewest repair-heavy complaints: 2018.
- Older isn't always cheaper: value lost shrinks as a car ages, but maintenance and repairs grow, from $722 a year for a 2025 to $2,208 for a 2011.
A paid-off car is usually the cheapest car you can drive, even with repairs: a replacement starts losing value the day you buy it and comes with tax, fees and often a loan. Switching tends to pay only when repairs get large and frequent, or a much more efficient car cuts fuel costs enough. Keep or Switch compares your Nissan Altima against any replacement, including the costs of switching.
Questions
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a Nissan Altima per year?
For a 2018 model at typical mileage, about $4,703 a year in value lost, insurance, fuel, maintenance, repairs and registration, not counting any loan. Years in the table range from $4,596 to $6,054.
Which Nissan Altima years have the most problems?
In NHTSA owner complaint data, 2012 drew the most repair-heavy complaints relative to similar cars. Complaints are voluntary and busier models draw more of them, so treat this as a weak signal.
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