Audi Care maintenance plan is a prepaid scheduled maintenance plan from Audi. You pay once upfront and Audi covers the scheduled services in your plan, at an authorized Audi dealer, using Audi trained technicians and Audi Genuine Parts. For model year 2025 and older cars, the main plan covers the 10,000, 20,000, 30,000 and 40,000 mile services. For model year 2026 and newer cars, Audi now includes the first three years or 30,000 miles free through Audi Signature Care, so check your model year first.
What Audi Care actually is
Audi Care is prepaid scheduled maintenance, not a warranty and not a repair plan. You buy a set of scheduled visits in advance, and Audi performs them when your car reaches the mileage or time limit, whichever comes first. The official Audi Care page states that the plan can be purchased with the vehicle sale and during service for model year 2025 and older cars, that service must be done by an authorized United States Audi dealer, and that coverage stays with the vehicle and may not be transferred to another vehicle.
Audi scheduled maintenance follows a simple rhythm. Audi recommends a service every 10,000 miles or 12 months, whichever comes first, with the first service due at 10,000 miles or one year after delivery. An audi care plan locks in that rhythm and the dealer service standard. If you prefer a trusted independent shop, get that shop price for the same four visits first.
What Audi Care covers, visit by visit
Audi Care covers the services in the scheduled maintenance schedule for your model and mileage, so always check your owner manual. Every visit includes an engine oil and oil filter change, a brake system inspection, a multipoint inspection, a check of lights, tires, battery, cooling system and underbody, a road test, and a service reminder reset. Ask for the inspection sheet, and book any worn item for repair before it becomes a breakdown.
At 20,000 miles or 2 years, Audi adds a dust and pollen filter replacement. Brake fluid is replaced every 2 years regardless of mileage, according to the Audi Care brochure, so book it even if your mileage is low. Spark plugs are replaced at the interval in your owner manual, often around the 40,000 mile service. On models with DSG or S tronic transmission, Audi changes the transmission fluid and filter at the interval in the manual, often first at 40,000 miles. These items are why the 40,000 mile visit is the most expensive. For electric Audi models, there is no engine oil change, but Audi still inspects the charging socket, battery system, brakes, tires and lights. Read our guide to electric car maintenance before you compare plans, because the service needs are not the same as for a petrol Audi.
What Audi Care does not cover
Audi Care covers scheduled maintenance only. It does not cover repairs, breakdowns, or wear items that need replacement because of normal use. Guides that summarize the Audi program state that brake pads and rotors, tires, wiper blades and clutches are not included, and neither are unscheduled repairs. Budget separately for those items. If a warning light comes on between visits, book a diagnostic visit at once and do not wait for the next Audi Care visit. Audi Care is also different from Audi Pure Protection, a separate contract for mechanical and electrical repairs.
How much Audi Care costs
Audi publishes list prices, called MSRP, in the Audi Care brochure, and notes that the dealer sets the final price, plus applicable taxes. Always ask your dealer for the final price for your exact model, including tax. For the main plan covering the 10,000 to 40,000 mile services, the brochure lists MSRP of 1,799 dollars for Standard tier models, 1,349 dollars for electric models, and 2,649 dollars for Premium tier models. Standard tier covers most A3, A4, A5, A6, A7, A8, Q3, Q5, Q7, Q8, S and TT models in the brochure. Premium tier covers high performance models such as S8, SQ7, SQ8, RS6, RS7, RSQ8 and R8.
Lease plans cost less because they cover fewer visits. Audi Care Lease for 2 services lists MSRP of 999 dollars for Standard tier, 899 dollars for electric models, and 1,399 dollars for Premium tier. Audi Care Lease for 3 services lists MSRP of 1,349 dollars, 1,049 dollars and 2,249 dollars in the same three tiers. For cars already on the road, Audi Care Select sells single interval packages. The brochure lists the 30,000 mile package at 349 dollars, 189 dollars and 1,249 dollars in the three tiers, while the 40,000 mile package lists at 1,149 dollars, 689 dollars and 989 dollars.
| Item | Audi Care | Pay per visit |
|---|---|---|
| Main plan price, Standard tier, 10,000 to 40,000 mile services | 1,799 dollars MSRP, dealer sets final price | No upfront payment, pay at each visit |
| Estimated total for the same four visits, A4 or Q5 example | Covered by the plan price above | 1,950 dollars to 2,550 dollars, third party estimate |
| Price protection | Price is fixed at purchase | Each visit is priced at that time |
| Where service is done | Authorized Audi dealer only | Dealer or independent shop, your choice |
| What is covered | Scheduled maintenance only | You pay only for the services you choose |
The per visit total above comes from a third party cost comparison that estimated 350 dollars to 450 dollars each for the 20,000 and 30,000 mile visits, and 900 dollars to 1,200 dollars for the 40,000 mile major service for an A4 or Q5. Those figures are estimates, not Audi official prices, and they vary by dealer, city and model. Get your own dealer quote for the same four visits. To see how a major service can add up on any car, read our guide to the cost of a vehicle tune up.
Audi Care, Audi Care Select, and Audi Signature Care: which one fits your car
Choose by model year and current mileage. If your Audi is model year 2025 or older and new or nearly new, Audi Care is the main plan. It expires at 52,000 miles or 60 months from the original in service date, whichever comes first. Put that limit in your calendar and book each visit before it. If your Audi is model year 2026 or newer, check Audi Signature Care first. Reports of the Audi announcement state that it covers scheduled maintenance at 10,000, 20,000 and 30,000 miles, plus one brake fluid service, at no extra cost. Do not pay for Audi Care for a 2026 model until the dealer confirms in writing that Signature Care does not already cover those visits. If your Audi is already past the early visits, check Audi Care Select, which sells single interval packages from 30,000 miles up to 120,000 miles. Buy only the next one or two intervals you will use. See the Honda car maintenance schedule for a useful comparison.
Is Audi Care worth it: decide in five minutes
First, will you keep the car through the 40,000 mile service? If yes, the plan has a real chance to save money. If you will sell at 25,000 miles, skip the full plan. Second, will you service at an authorized Audi dealer anyway? If yes, compare the dealer per visit prices with the plan price. Third, does your driving fit the time limit? If you drive 8,000 miles a year, you will reach 40,000 miles in five years, right at the limit, so book each visit on time. Fourth, get the tier, visits covered, expiry date, and total price including tax in writing. Fifth, budget separately for tires, brake pads and rotors, wipers and repairs.
How to buy it and use it without losing a visit
Buy Audi Care at the time of vehicle sale if you can, because Audi states that the cost can be incorporated into your payment when you purchase or lease through an authorized dealer. You can also buy it later during service if your car still meets the time and mileage eligibility rules. Before you sign, confirm the model tier, the exact visits covered, the expiry mileage and date, and the total price including tax. After you buy, book each visit a few weeks before the due mileage or date, and ask the service advisor to confirm that the visit is covered before work starts. If you miss a visit, call the dealer the same week and ask if it can still be done under the plan.
Frequently asked questions
Is Audi Care worth it for a new Audi?
It can be worth it if you will keep the car through the 40,000 mile service, service at an authorized dealer, and use all four visits before the 52,000 mile or 60 month expiry. Get a dealer quote for the same four visits, compare it with the plan price for your tier, and buy only if the plan price is lower and you will use every visit.
What does Audi Care cover at the 40,000 mile service?
It covers the scheduled items for that visit in your owner manual, which can include engine oil and filter change, air cleaner service, dust and pollen filter, spark plugs where due, brake fluid where due, brake system inspection, and transmission fluid change on models where the manual lists it. Ask your dealer for the written service list for your exact model before the visit.
Does Audi Care cover brake pads, tires or repairs?
No. Audi Care covers scheduled maintenance only. Brake pads and rotors, tires, wiper blades, clutches and unscheduled repairs are not included. Budget separately for those items, book a diagnostic visit at once if a warning light appears, and do not wait for the next scheduled visit to fix a safety issue.
Can I buy Audi Care after I buy the car?
Yes, in many cases you can buy it during service if your car still meets the age and mileage eligibility rules for the plan you want. Ask an authorized Audi dealer to check your current mileage and in service date, confirm which plan you are eligible for, and get the final price, visits covered and expiry date in writing before you pay.