Wave Goodbye to Hyundai’s Complimentary Upkeep
Hyundai has obtained popularity of having among the finest complimentary upkeep plans for brand spanking new automobile clients—however issues are about to alter. Beginning with 2026 and newer fashions, Hyundai will not provide its free routine upkeep perk with protection for a driver’s first three years or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first. This upkeep plan included oil and oil filter adjustments, tire rotations, and a multi-point inspection.
Final week, Hyundai despatched a bulletin to dealerships saying: “The price of this system grew to unsupportable ranges,” as first reported by CarsDirect. The bulletin continued, “The HCM [Hyundai Complimentary Maintenance] Program has offered protection for the Hyundai mannequin from 2020 by means of 2025. As this system has matured, Hyundai has decided a brand new method is important and won’t offer the HCM Program for mannequin yr 2026 and past.”
What is the Program’s New Model?
Hyundai can be promoting pre-paid upkeep plans for 2026 and newer fashions for dealerships to extend earnings. Nonetheless, you’ll be able to nonetheless obtain HCM program protection by buying a 2025 mannequin, and former 2020 by means of 2025 Hyundai clients will retain the perk. For 2026 fashions and past, Hyundai patrons can choose both a “Pre-Paid Primary” or “Pre-Paid Schedule” plan. The Pre-Paid Primary plan covers oil adjustments and tire rotations, whereas its counterpart fulfills all scheduled upkeep listed within the automobile’s proprietor’s guide. The dealership bulletin additionally notes “regular vs extreme utilization,” representing how clients use their automobiles, which may end in a specified, tailored plan. Hyundai’s new upkeep plans can be obtainable with protection lasting as much as eight years. The automaker’s soon-to-expire HCM program is separate from its 10-year, 100,000-mile powertrain guarantee and five-year, 60,000-mile new automobile guarantee, each of which is able to stay.
Whereas automotive buyers can buy a 2025 Hyundai to obtain HCM program protection, customers might look towards different producers with aggressive new automobile upkeep packages, like Jaguar, Genesis, BMW, and Mini. Jaguar presents the very best complimentary upkeep program of the automakers, overlaying scheduled upkeep for 5 years or 60,000 miles, whichever comes first. Genesis, which gained’t be impacted by its guardian firm Hyundai’s resolution to drop the HCM program, gives three years or 36,000 miles of routine upkeep protection, together with BMW and Mini.
Hyundai confirmed the circumstances of its new pre-paid upkeep plan technique in an e-mail to Autoblog, saying, “The Hyundai Complimentary Upkeep Program will finish for mannequin yr 2026 autos and past. Nonetheless, for purchasers who bought a automobile that included Hyundai Complimentary Upkeep (mannequin years 2020-2025), there can be no adjustments to their service, and it’ll proceed to be obtainable for the mannequin yr 2024/2025 autos bought or leased as new (non-fleet). We encourage homeowners with questions on their Hyundai Complimentary Upkeep to go to their native dealership or contact the Hyundai Buyer Care Middle at (800) 633-5151.”
Last ideas
Whereas different automakers are nonetheless providing aggressive complimentary upkeep protection, these plans are typically restricted to luxurious manufacturers, and with automobile costs set to extend following President Trump’s newly imposed 25% tariff on all automotive and half imports, high-end fashions from corporations like Jaguar will seemingly develop additional out of attain of drivers’ budgets. Hyundai and Genesis Motor North America Chief Government Randy Parker informed sellers that “tariffs will not be simple” and “present automobile pricing just isn’t assured and could also be topic to alter for items wholesaled after April 2 [the date in which Trump’s tariffs went into effect],” Carscoops studies.