Affiliate Disclosure: Automoblog and its partners may earn a commission if you purchase coverage from the extended warranty providers outlined here. These commissions come to us at no additional cost to you. Our research team has carefully vetted dozens of extended warranty providers. See our Privacy Policy to learn more.
Crash Course:
- Mercedes maintenance plans cover routine services such as windshield wiper blade replacements, brake fluid changes, and spark plug replacements.
- While it’s convenient for Mercedes-Benz to cover regular maintenance services, it could be cheaper to take care of them on your own.
- Get quotes for Mercedes maintenance plans to discover whether they’ll be cost-effective for your vehicle.
Taking good care of your Mercedes-Benz is essential for its performance and longevity, but it’s also necessary to keep warranty coverage valid. With a Mercedes maintenance plan, you can cover the cost of routine maintenance services ahead of time and potentially at a discount.
Our experts took a careful look at Mercedes maintenance plans to learn how much they cost and what services they cover. The following article includes our findings along with some key points to help you whether a Mercedes-Benz maintenance plan is right for you.
Mercedes-Benz Maintenance Plan Options
Mercedes maintenance plans cover the cost of services in your maintenance schedule for a fee that can be paid upfront or rolled into your monthly car payment. With maintenance coverage, you won’t pay anything to the dealership when mechanics perform these services. Maintenance plans function similarly to Mercedes extended warranties in that they’re vehicle service contracts where you’re charged a fee to avoid paying for services later.
With a coverage plan, all routine maintenance needs will be performed at authorized service centers by certified technicians using genuine Mercedes-Benz parts.
Mercedes-Benz Star Prepaid Maintenance
Star Prepaid Maintenance is a service package that Mercedes-Benz owners can purchase for older or used models. The automaker says that this package offers considerable savings over paying for individual services as they come up. This Mercedes-Benz prepaid maintenance plan is available on all gas and electric models except for the Maybach, SLR, and SLS.
Mercedes-Benz Premier Prepaid Maintenance
Mercedes also offers a Premier Prepaid Maintenance plan. This package provides relatively similar coverage to the Star maintenance plan but is instead available for new models. Because of this, Premier plans must be purchased before the first service visit or the car’s 10,000-mile mark, whichever comes first.
Mercedes Prepaid Maintenance Plan Cost
Mercedes maintenance plan prices aren’t published on the automaker’s website, and this is likely because their costs vary due to various factors. However, our research team found that the average cost of a Mercedes maintenance plan is $786 per year or 10,000-mile interval. While your exact price is likely to be different, you can use this average to give a general idea of what you might pay.
Mercedes Maintenance Plan Price Factors
The price of Mercedes-Benz maintenance plans varies widely because several factors affect rates. These include the following:
- Mercedes-Benz model: Each car model has a different maintenance schedule and list of service needs. The price of your Mercedes maintenance plan will reflect the services outlined in your specific owner’s manual. Expect vastly different service schedules between various models like CLAs, GLAs, and Sprinters.
- Coverage length: The length of coverage that you buy greatly influences overall prices. People typically report paying less per year when buying Mercedes maintenance plans with longer coverage terms.
- Purchase location: Dealerships often make profits from the markup they add to vehicle maintenance plans, so some may charge more for the same plan than others.
Where To Buy a Mercedes Maintenance Plan
You can only purchase Star Prepaid Maintenance and Premium Prepaid Maintenance plans from authorized Mercedes-Benz dealers. However, you can choose which dealership you buy coverage from. That means it may be worth calling multiple dealerships’ phone numbers to compare prices or look for special deals.
Mercedes-Benz Prepaid Maintenance Payment Options
You have two choices when it comes to paying for a Mercedes-Benz maintenance plan. One is to prepay for the entirety of your package. You also have the option to roll the cost of either maintenance plan into your auto loan, though this will increase your overall interest payments.
Adding a Mercedes maintenance plan to your financing spreads the cost over the length of your loan term. This can result in only a small increase to your monthly vehicle payments. However, you’ll end up paying far more over the full term of the car loan than if you’d bought coverage upfront.
Mercedes Maintenance Plan Coverage
Broadly speaking, Star and Premium plans cover whichever Mercedes-Benz services are outlined in your owner’s manual. The maintenance types included in each plan vary by model and year based on the vehicle’s specific needs. However, when you buy a Mercedes-Benz maintenance package, it should include all the service needs specific to your car.
What Does a Mercedes Maintenance Plan Cover?
The tasks covered by a Mercedes maintenance plan vary depending on which model you own or lease. They also vary based on how many miles your car has on it and the intervals for which services are recommended. For example, services that aren’t needed for the first three years or 30,000 miles of your car’s life will likely be excluded during that period.
Mercedes Maintenance Services for All Models
The services covered for nearly all Mercedes-Benz models include:
- Multipoint inspections
- Full synthetic motor oil and oil filter replacements
- Wiper blade sets
- Fluid level checks and corrections
- Transmission oil and filter replacements
- Dust filter replacements
- Brake fluid changes
- Spark plug replacements
- Engine air filter replacements
- Fuel filter replacements for diesel models
Mercedes Maintenance Services for Specific Models
Mercedes-Benz maintenance packages cover the following services for only a few of the company’s models:
- Rear differential fluid replacements for AMG P30 models
- Main circuit coolant replacements for V12 models
- Front and rear axle fluid oil replacements for G55 AMG models
- Transfer case oil replacements for certain E-Class models
Mercedes Maintenance Services for AMG Models
Maintenance plans for AMG models include the following services:
- Rear axle oil changes
- Engine air filter replacements
- Transmission oil and filter replacements
Mercedes Maintenance Services for EV Models
Mercedes electric vehicle (EV) models require different maintenance services than internal combustion engine models. The company includes the following in EV maintenance plans:
- Multipoint EV inspections
- Combination filter replacements
Mercedes Maintenance Plan Benefits
Some automakers include benefits such as roadside assistance, rental car reimbursement, and trip interruption protection with their maintenance plans. However, Mercedes-Benz does not package any perks into its Star Prepaid Maintenance or Premium Prepaid Maintenance plans.
Our team considers the transferability of these service plans to be a major benefit, though. Coverage will follow your car to a new owner if you sell it, which could increase the model’s resale value and make it more attractive to buyers.
Mercedes Maintenance Plan Eligibility
Mercedes has different eligibility requirements for its Star and Premium maintenance plans. Owners can only purchase a Premium Prepaid Maintenance plan before their car reaches 10,000 miles or has its first service appointment, whichever comes first.
With the Star package, however, eligibility is much less restrictive. Mercedes-Benz vehicles are eligible for this maintenance plan as long as they don’t fall under the following exclusions:
- Maybach, SLR, or SLS models
- More than eight model years old
- More than 80,000 miles on the odometer
Mercedes maintenance plans are sold by individual dealerships, which may have their own eligibility criteria.
Is a Mercedes Maintenance Plan Worth It?
Mercedes-Benz claims that a maintenance plan can save drivers considerable money compared to paying for maintenance services individually. This is under the assumption that drivers would follow the exact schedule recommended by Mercedes for its vehicles.
Maintenance services for Mercedes-Benz vehicles are pretty much always expensive. An oil change at the Mercedes dealership will set you back anywhere from $150 to $250, far more than with many other mainstream car brands. While you may not get the full value of what you spend in the first year, other services are similarly pricey. A Mercedes maintenance plan can increase the financial accessibility of critical but expensive automotive services.
Advantages of a Mercedes Maintenance Plan
A maintenance package offers value beyond immediate cost savings. For drivers who plan to hold onto their vehicles, buying a plan with several years of coverage allows them to lock in the cost of their services. Repair costs tend to increase over time, so the price of an oil change or brake fluid replacement will likely be more expensive three years from now. If you purchase a maintenance package now, you won’t have to pay higher rates for services later on.
Another benefit of Mercedes maintenance plans is the peace of mind that they offer. Paying in advance means you don’t have to worry about coming up with money when your car is due for a service appointment. That can remove any hesitation you may have when it comes time to spend several hundred dollars at the dealership.
Mercedes Maintenance Plan Customer Reviews
In threads about Mercedes maintenance plans on Reddit, the majority of comments recommend buying coverage. According to many of the comments, this is especially true when you have services done at the dealership – a requirement to keep your Mercedes factory warranty valid.
However, once your Mercedes new vehicle limited warranty expires at four years or 50,000 miles, you’re no longer obligated to have services done at a dealership. Since routine maintenance services are generally much cheaper at independent service centers, the automaker’s maintenance plans may offer less value for older pre-owned vehicles.
One Reddit user summed up what our research team felt was the majority opinion with the following comment:
General consensus is that it’s worth it if you plan on servicing it at the dealer who marks up these services … I think a lot of people buy the maintenance package and when the car is out of warranty, they go to independent shops.
– FeeDisastrous3879
Pros and Cons of Mercedes Maintenance Plans
In the table below, you’ll find some of the main advantages and disadvantages of buying a Mercedes maintenance plan:
Mercedes Maintenance Plan Pros | Mercedes Maintenance Plan Cons |
Could save up to 30% on maintenance services | You must schedule services at Mercedes-Benz dealerships |
Adds to the market value of your vehicle | May be more expensive versus getting services done at independent shops |
Few eligibility restrictions | No added perks |
Mercedes-Benz Maintenance Plans: Conclusion
A Mercedes maintenance plan could be worth it for many owners – perhaps more so than with other brands due to high Mercedes maintenance costs. Even if you save less than the advertised 30%, you’ll likely save some money on required services.
Our research suggests that after the factory warranty expires, you may spend less by going to an independent repair shop instead. However, if you prefer the peace of mind that comes with a Mercedes dealership taking care of regular services, a maintenance plan could still be worth it.
Mercedes Coverage Plans: Extended Warranty Providers
If covering the cost of routine services with a maintenance plan seems appealing, you may also want to consider an extended car warranty for your Mercedes-Benz. An extended warranty covers the cost of repairs needed as the result of a mechanical breakdown. Extending your factory coverage can give you peace of mind and could save you money on expensive Mercedes repairs.
Third-party extended warranty providers offer free quotes that you can compare to find the best price on Mercedes-Benz coverage. Below are a few providers that earned some of the highest scores in our 2023 extended auto warranty study:
Endurance: Best Overall
Endurance earned the highest score among extended warranty providers and with it the award for Best Overall. The company is one of very few direct providers in the extended car warranty industry, which results in an efficient and accountable claims process that’s simple to navigate. Endurance even offers coverage for AMG Mercedes models that can be hard to protect.
Keep reading: Endurance warranty review
Olive: Best Online Process
With three levels of coverage and a strong customer service reputation, Olive is a provider worth considering for any Mercedes owner. The company’s monthly subscription model that allows customers to cancel warranty plans at any time makes it great for those who aren’t sure if they want coverage. Olive’s streamlined online customer experience also makes it easy to manage a policy and make a claim.
Keep reading: Olive warranty review
Mercedes Maintenance Plans: FAQ
Here are some frequently asked questions about Mercedes-Benz maintenance plans:
How long is the Mercedes-Benz maintenance plan?
You can choose how long your Mercedes-Benz maintenance plan lasts for. Depending on the age of your vehicle, you can choose terms of anywhere between a two- and four-year package.
Why is Mercedes service B so expensive?
Mercedes service B is pricier than service A because it involves more maintenance items. In addition to the services performed during service A, service B also includes a brake inspection and brake fluid correction, among other services.
What is service B on a Mercedes?
Service B on a Mercedes, which occurs at the two-year or 20,000-mile mark, includes everything from service A plus extra maintenance. In addition to oil and filter changes, service B also includes a cabin filter replacement, tire pressure inspection, brake fluid inspection, and brake component inspection.
What is schedule C maintenance for Mercedes?
Service C maintenance on a Mercedes is nearly identical to service A, but may involve a closer and more thorough inspection. The interval includes a computer diagnostic inspection, oil and filter change, wiper blade replacement, and overall fluid inspection and correction.
Our Methodology
In order to accurately assess the value provided by prepaid maintenance plans, our team of experts developed a standardized methodology that allows us to directly compare providers. We collect information about maintenance plans from top companies and consider customer opinions to get a well-rounded understanding of what the plans offer, how much they cost, and what customers think of their value.
Each plan is evaluated based on the following criteria:
- Coverage: Our experts use the most current information available to compare the services covered by each provider, as well as the benefits included with each plan. Providers that offer more comprehensive coverage and benefits earn the best scores.
- Cost: We collect information from a variety of sources, including self-reported comments from customers, to find an average per-year cost for each provider. Providers offering more cost-effective plans earn higher scores.
- Availability: Some providers offer greater flexibility in terms of when owners can buy maintenance coverage. The number of service locations where owners can use their maintenance plans also varies between providers. Companies that make it easier to buy and use coverage earn higher scores.
- Value: Our team compares the average cost of maintenance plans to the cost of services specific to the corresponding auto brand to assess the financial value offered by each provider. Maintenance plans that will likely save money over paying for services individually earn providers the highest scores in this category.
- Customer sentiment: We read through comments across online forums to assess customer opinion about particular plans and providers. Companies that receive a higher ratio of positive comments to negative ones earn higher scores.
*Data accurate at time of publication.