Changing Tires Became a Luxury: The Cost of Maintaining a Car Soars in Brazil

Written by Roberta Souza

Published on 28/01/2026 at 11:52

Foto: Ia

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Cumulative Adjustments, High Dollar, and Industrial Costs Make Car Maintenance Heavier on the Wallets of Brazilians

Maintaining a car in 2026 has become significantly more expensive in Brazil. Those who needed to change tires, perform maintenance, or replace basic parts have already felt the direct impact on their finances. The increase did not come from a single factor, but from a combination of costs that includes a high dollar, accumulated inflation, more expensive logistics, and dependence on imported parts.

The result is simple: items that were once considered routine maintenance now require financial planning. And this applies to both popular cars and SUVs, pickups, and used vehicles.

Why Tires and Parts Have Become More Expensive

The increase in automotive maintenance costs is a consequence of several factors that have intensified in recent years:

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Tires Lead Increases in 2026

Tires are among the items that have seen the most significant price hikes. On average, cumulative adjustments range between 20% to almost 30%, depending on the size, brand, and type of vehicle.

In practice, this means that changing a complete set of tires may cost R$ 300 to R$ 500 more today than it did two years ago — an immediate impact on the driver’s budget.

See below the comparative price table (image) showing how much tires and parts have increased from the previous period to 2026.

Automotive Parts Have Also Become More Expensive

Besides tires, other common maintenance parts have also seen price increases. Brake pads, discs, shock absorbers, and batteries have had constant adjustments, reflecting both industrial costs and logistical difficulties.

In many cases, a simple maintenance service that used to cost around R$ 900 now exceeds R$ 1,150 in 2026. More comprehensive services can easily reach R$ 1,500 or more, especially for SUVs and pickups.

Used Cars Feel the Impact Even More

Those with used cars feel the increase more acutely. This happens because:

maintenance is more frequent;
some parts are more difficult to find;
many models depend on imported components;
natural wear and tear requires more frequent replacements.

In some cases, the annual maintenance cost already represents 10% to 15% of the vehicle’s value, something that used to be common only in older cars.

More Expensive Maintenance in 2026 — Source: IA

Is It Worth Delaying Maintenance?

Experts warn that delaying maintenance can be even more costly. Worn tires, compromised brakes, and expired suspension increase:

fuel consumption;
wear on other parts;
risk of accidents;
chance of unexpected expenses in the future.

In 2026, the driver’s challenge is not only to pay more but also to choose the right moment to spend.

How to Reduce the Impact on Your Wallet

Even with higher prices, some actions help save money:

research prices at more than one workshop;
avoid replacing parts without real necessity;
keep alignment and balancing up to date;
choose trustworthy brands, not just the most expensive;
invest in preventive maintenance.

Small decisions can represent significant savings over the year.

What to Expect Going Forward

The scenario indicates that maintenance costs are likely to remain high in the coming months. If the dollar rises again or industrial costs increase once more, further adjustments are not ruled out.

For the Brazilian driver, the message is clear: in 2026, owning a car remains a synonym for mobility but also requires constant financial planning.

Changing Tires Became a Luxury: The Cost of Maintaining a Car Soars in Brazil

Cumulative Adjustments, High Dollar, and Industrial Costs Make Car Maintenance Heavier on the Wallets of Brazilians

Why Tires and Parts Have Become More Expensive

Tires Lead Increases in 2026

Automotive Parts Have Also Become More Expensive

Used Cars Feel the Impact Even More

Is It Worth Delaying Maintenance?

How to Reduce the Impact on Your Wallet

What to Expect Going Forward

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Changing Tires Became a Luxury: The Cost of Maintaining a Car Soars in Brazil

Cumulative Adjustments, High Dollar, and Industrial Costs Make Car Maintenance Heavier on the Wallets of Brazilians

Why Tires and Parts Have Become More Expensive

Tires Lead Increases in 2026

Automotive Parts Have Also Become More Expensive

Used Cars Feel the Impact Even More

Is It Worth Delaying Maintenance?

How to Reduce the Impact on Your Wallet

What to Expect Going Forward

While an average building in London or New York takes three years to be completed, in China a 26-story tower went up in five days with about 100 workers, and the global modular construction market already moves US$ 95 billion per year.

A Chinese factory in Guangdong is assembling a humanoid robot every 30 minutes while Tesla, Figure, and Boston Dynamics still struggle to deliver 10 thousand per year.

Australia installs giant concrete structures on the seabed 800 meters from the shore to create an ocean intake for desalination that will draw in saltwater and produce 30 million liters of drinking water per day.

Secret chamber sealed 4,500 years ago found in the Pyramid of Khufu, and Hawass announces its opening to the world in 2026

A public school student single-handedly created a machine capable of treating water for up to 50 people using only solar energy. It was awarded third place at one of the most important science fairs in the world.

Germany installed vertical solar panels on a lake in Bavaria, and the result broke conventional logic: instead of producing energy at midday peak, the plant generates more early in the morning and in the evening, exactly when families turn on appliances and factories are in full swing.

While communities suffer from water scarcity and the advancing desert, women in Morocco use nets high up in the mountains to trap fog droplets, fill reservoirs, and transport drinking water through more than 10 km of piping.

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