On 1 january 2026, a new edition of the automobile maintenance, detection and diagnostic technology code (gb/t 18344-2025) officially landed, radically changing the traditional car-keeping logic. The new core is “time + mileage two-track system, mandatory separation from the proposed item, electronic records included in the annual review” and directs excessive maintenance pain points. The industry data show that 30 per cent of the traditional 4s shop maintenance is not necessary, and the average annual cost of domestic vehicles is 2000-4,000 dollars. Following the implementation of the new regulations, the owner of the vehicle was kept in accordance with the rules, saving thousands of dollars a year and guaranteeing the safety and quality of the vehicle。
First, read the new rule of 2026: good-bye, money spent on blades. Let's go
The most significant change in the new regulations is to break the “5,000 km mandatory” mindset by replacing “time or mileage before” with “time or mileage before” and to clarify the three-tier maintenance system. The day-to-day maintenance is self-checked by the owner, primary maintenance by level i maintenance, full testing by level ii maintenance and certification by level ii maintenance to provide 5,000 km or 30 days of quality assurance。
At the same time, projects are divided into mandatory and recommended categories. The mandatory project is of concern to the safety of the vehicle and must be done; it is proposed that the project be selected on a case-by-case basis and that no unusual new vehicle be introduced within three years and no in-depth maintenance be recommended. The electronic maintenance records are included in the annual inspection, and the plant may not refuse to secure them as long as they are maintained at the compliance store and the certificates are retained. This means that owners are no longer subject to the sale of 4s, choose their own maintenance channels and projects, and legally save money。
Ii. List of mandatory items: a safe bottom line and no waste
Under the new regulations of 2026, the maintenance of domestic vehicles was only for core mandatory projects, while the rest was on demand, safe and economical。
(i) oil + machine filters: change by type, not to be fooled by 5,000 km
Total composite oils: 10000-15000 km or 1 year, whichever is earlier. Domestic vehicles are within 10,000 kilometres of average per year and can be exchanged once a year, without a six-monthly change. Semi-synthetic oil: 7,500-8,000 km or 9 months. Mineral oil: 5,000 km or 6 months。
Cost reference: total composite oils of $300-500 + machine filtering of $30-80 + working hours of $50-100, small maintenance of $400-650. Third-party compliance stores are 40-60 per cent cheaper than 4s, and small maintenance of 4s stores is generally $800-1200。
(ii) three filters: replace them as needed and save half of them by themselves
Air filter cores: average environment 1 year or 15,000 km, sand and dust area 6 months or 8,000 km. Air-conditioning filter cores: replace spring, summer, autumn and winter, with active carbon version 1. 5 years. Fuel filtering cores: 20,000 km external, 60,000 km built-in, most domestic vehicles built-in, largely maintenance-free。
Cost-saving techniques: air, air-conditioning filtration networks buy $30-80 for five minutes for themselves, $100-200 for the shop。
(iii) brake system: security core, regular check-ups
Brake blades: the thickness <3mm must be replaced with normal driving ranges of 30,000 to 50,000 kilometres. Brake oil: dot4 standard 2 years or 40,000 kilometres, dot5. 1 standard 3 years or 60,000 kilometres, and advance inspection of water content in humid areas in the south. Brake plates: wear and tear exceeding limit or change when deformed, without prior change。
(iv) tyres + cylinders: see state, not blind replacement
Tyres: flowed depth < 1. 6 mm with drums torn apart must be replaced; no damage is also recommended for replacement of 6 years or 80,000 km and rubber aging. Bottles: disconnection is normal, the voltage is stable, the poles are regularly checked, the recharge is sufficient and must be replaced without two to three years。
(v) oil fluids: long-lasting effects are predominant, less double-checking
Refrigerated liquids: 5 years or 100,000 km long, minus 2 years. Vector tank oil: auto-stop/cvt 40-60000 km, manual block 6-80 000 km, electric car brake oil 8-100,000 km. Turning to assistive oils: no leaks, no changes in quality, most electric aids are not maintained。
Iii. Unprescribed pitfall projects: the money is separate hana
In 2026, the new regulations made it clear that the following items were not mandatory, were not unusual and had to be done for nothing。
1. Depth of engine cleaning, carbon washing, oil road maintenance: within 3 years or 90,000 kilometres, without impotence, acceleration or failure. 4s offers $300-800, pure iq tax。
2. Air-conditioning depth enzyme, interior deodorant: an annual change of air-conditioning filtration cores is sufficient and is done when the odor is severe, without every maintenance。
3. Engine resistance, fuel treasures: regular oil and gasoline already contain additives, add-ons are useless and may damage engines。
Four-wheel positioning, moving balance: no running, no shaking, only once in a new car and a tire change, not periodically。
5. A car-wide oil replacement package: the life of the fluid varies, with an extra fee of $500 to $1,000 for the package replacement and a single-cycle replacement。
Iv. 2026 money-saving exercise: channel selection + techniques, thousands of times a year
(i) how to choose the maintenance channel: 4s, vs. Third party, as required
• 4s store: suitable for the duration of the new quality guarantee, high-end model, planned sale of used vehicles. The advantages are original plant fittings, regulatory records, quality assurance; the disadvantages are high prices and easy to market over-the-counter projects。
• third-party compliance store (category ii qualification): suitable for a guaranteed vehicle, household vehicle. The same project is 40-60 per cent cheaper than the 4s store, $260-420 smaller maintenance and $1,500-3000 large maintenance. Quality assurance shall not be affected by qualification, use of authentic parts or retention documents。
• self-help maintenance: vulnerable items such as air, air-conditioning cores, rain scrapes, etc., are self-help, with a saving of $100-200 each。
(ii) spare parts selection: original vs sub-plant with priority over value
Non-core components (air filtering, air-conditioning filtering, rain scratching, brake blades), compliance brand by-products, quality compliance, 30-50 per cent cheaper than the original plant. Core components (mechanical oil, gear tank oil, brake oil), selection of large brands and purchase of counterfeit goods at no cost。
(iii) low mileage owner (<10,000 km per year): very simple maintenance, thousands of dollars per year
The owners of vehicles who drive less than 10,000 kilometres per year are the most vulnerable to pits. According to the new rules, only full composite oil + machine filtering ($400), air-conditioning core filtering ($50), brake/team inspection (free of charge) is done for one year, totalling approximately $450. Five thousand kilometres of maintenance, one less time a year, and 500 plus。
(iv) practical cash-saving techniques
1. Advance reading of the manual: pre-recommendations of 4s stores are rejected by maintaining the manual cycle。
Rejection of additional items: only agreed projects are maintained and are not fooled by “good for you”。
3. Web-based spare parts + door shop installation: oil, tri-filter purchases, door shop hours paid, 30-50 per cent savings。
4. Wrong maintenance: avoidance of holidays, discounts at the door and eight to nine discounts on working hours。
Retention certificates: invoices, list of items, certificate of eligibility for accessories, synchronization of electronic records, assurance of quality and annual inspection。
V. Real cases: current respects, 3000+ per year
The owner of the car, mr. Lee, is driving 9,000 kilometres per year at 2020. Under the old regulations of 2025, 4s stores were maintained: $850 per minor maintenance (including cleaning projects), twice a year, plus other items, at a cost of $3,200 per year. After the new regulations of 2026, a third-party shop was selected, with only one full-synthetic minor maintenance of $420 per year, 50 for air conditioners, and a free brake check totalling $470 per year. Saved $2730 a year, nearly $3,000, and the vehicle is in normal condition。
Vi. Maintenance of new energy vehicles: simpler and more economical space
New energy vehicles have no engines, speedboxes, fewer maintenance projects and less money. Projects will be carried out: three electrical system checks, brake systems, tyres, air conditioning cores, gear oils (speed-reducing oils). Only $200-300 is required for minor maintenance and $1,000-2000 for major maintenance, more than 50 per cent less than for fuel trucks. Moreover, the new energy vehicle is guaranteed for eight years/150,000 kilometres, with no additional cost for routine maintenance。
Summary
The new car maintenance code of 2026 is a means to save money. The core is “cycle-by-cycle, subproject-by-project, channel-by-choice, no-go” and does only security-necessary projects and does not cost money. The reduction of $2,000-$4,000 per year in domestic vehicles is based on this schedule, which guarantees the safety of motor vehicles without compromising their quality and life。
Cars are not as expensive as they are, but rather more standardized. In 2026, over-maintenance was given, and the money was spent on the blade to give value for every cent of maintenance。
