Lexus IS Cost to Own
By CarWhere Research · Updated
A 2026 Lexus IS costs about $44,129 over 5 years and 75,000 miles in depreciation, fuel and insurance. Depreciation is the biggest share at $20,135 (36.5% of the median new price); fuel $17,584 and national-average insurance $6,410 make up the rest. Scheduled maintenance, repairs and registration fees come on top.
5-year total
$44,129
depreciation + fuel + insurance
Depreciation
$20,135
36.5% of new price
Fuel
$17,584
$3,517/yr
Insurance
$6,410
national average
5-year cost-to-own breakdown
Assumptions: 5 years, 15,000 miles a year (75,000 total), bought new. Every line shows its formula and source.
| Line | 5 years | Per year | How it’s calculated | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Depreciation | $20,135 | $4,027 | $55,164 median new price (2026) × 36.5% below new for 5-year-old (2021) listings | CarWhere depreciation study |
| Fuel | $17,584 | $3,517 | 75,000 mi ÷ 22 MPG × $5.158/gal premium (median of 2 EPA versions) | EPA × EIA November 2, 2026 |
| Insurance | $6,410 | $1,282 | U.S. average expenditure per insured car (2023) × 5 years. Not specific to the IS. | NAIC, by state |
| Scheduled maintenance | See note | — | LexusCare complimentary maintenance (First two scheduled services: 6 months/5,000 miles and 12 months/10,000 miles) is included; beyond its terms, the Lexus schedule below applies. No manufacturer-published service prices. | Lexus schedule |
| Registration and fees | Varies by state | — | State registration, title and taxes. | State title guides |
| Total | $44,129 | $8,826 | Depreciation + fuel + national-average insurance. Maintenance, repairs and fees not included. | |
Depreciation
New ISs list for a median $55,164 (2,301 listings). In CarWhere’s used-market study, 2021 models (5 years old) list 36.5% below that, so a IS loses about $20,135 in its first five years.
| Model year | Age | Median listing | Below new | Listings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 5 | $35,008 | 36.5% | 260 |
Fuel
The EPA rates the 2026 IS at 22 MPG combined. At $5.158/gal premium (EIA, week of November 2, 2026), 75,000 miles cost about $17,584, or $3,517 a year.
EPA versions included: IS 350, IS 350 AWD.
Insurance
Insurance varies by driver, location and coverage. Across all insured cars, U.S. drivers spent an average of $1,282 a year in 2023 (NAIC); see car insurance cost by state for your state’s average.
Is the IS expensive to maintain?
Lexus's published oil-change interval: replace oil and filter every 12 months or 10,000 miles, or when the oil maintenance reminder appears, whichever comes first. LexusCare complimentary maintenance: first two scheduled services: 6 months/5,000 miles and 12 months/10,000 miles. We list the schedule rather than a dollar figure because Lexus doesn't publish service prices.
For repair patterns owners report, see IS known issues.
LexusCare complimentary maintenance
Term: First two scheduled services: 6 months/5,000 miles and 12 months/10,000 miles, whichever comes first.
Covers: Tire rotation, fluid check/top-off, brake and wiper inspection, maintenance-reminder reset and road test at 5,000 miles; adds oil and filter change and cabin air filter replacement at 10,000 miles. For vehicles registered and normally operated in the continental U.S., U.S. territories and Canada.
Source: 2025 Lexus RX 350 Warranty and Services Guide (Scheduled Maintenance chapter)
Oil changes
Normal: Replace oil and filter every 12 months or 10,000 miles, or when the oil maintenance reminder appears, whichever comes first.
Severe or special conditions: Every 6 months or 5,000 miles if driven mainly on dirt/dusty roads or on repeated trips under 5 miles below freezing (32°F), even if the reminder hasn't appeared. Lexus.com adds that vehicles on non-synthetic oil are serviced every 5,000 miles.
Oil: Oil type per the Owner's Manual (lexus.com schedule lists 0W-20).
Source: 2025 Lexus RX 350 Warranty and Services Guide (Scheduled Maintenance chapter)
| Interval | Items | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Every 6 months / 5,000 miles |
| 2025 Lexus RX 350 Warranty and Services Guide (Scheduled Maintenance chapter) |
| Every 12 months / 10,000 miles |
| 2025 Lexus RX 350 Warranty and Services Guide (Scheduled Maintenance chapter) |
| Every 15,000 miles |
| 2025 Lexus RX 350 Warranty and Services Guide (Scheduled Maintenance chapter) |
| Every 30,000 miles (30k, 60k, 90k) |
| 2025 Lexus RX 350 Warranty and Services Guide (Scheduled Maintenance chapter) |
| 60,000 miles |
| 2025 Lexus RX 350 Warranty and Services Guide (Scheduled Maintenance chapter) |
| Engine coolant |
| 2026 Lexus NX 350 Warranty and Services Guide |
| Severe/towing add-ons |
| 2025 Lexus RX 350 Warranty and Services Guide (Scheduled Maintenance chapter) |
IS-specific notes
- 2025 IS 300: same 5,000/10,000-mile cadence; spark plugs at 40,000 and 80,000 miles; rear differential oil inspected every 15,000 miles (replaced every 15,000 when towing).
More IS research
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to own a Lexus IS?
A 2026 Lexus IS costs about $44,129 over 5 years and 75,000 miles in depreciation, fuel and insurance. Depreciation is the biggest share at $20,135 (36.5% of the median new price); fuel $17,584 and national-average insurance $6,410 make up the rest. Scheduled maintenance, repairs and registration fees come on top.
Is the IS expensive to maintain?
Lexus's published oil-change interval: replace oil and filter every 12 months or 10,000 miles, or when the oil maintenance reminder appears, whichever comes first. LexusCare complimentary maintenance: first two scheduled services: 6 months/5,000 miles and 12 months/10,000 miles. We list the schedule rather than a dollar figure because Lexus doesn't publish service prices.
Is the IS expensive to insure?
Insurance varies by driver, location and coverage, and CarWhere doesn't publish model-specific premiums. Across all insured cars, U.S. drivers spent an average of $1,282 a year (NAIC, 2023), or $6,410 over 5 years; our state-by-state study shows the average where you live.
How much does a IS depreciate in 5 years?
In CarWhere's used-market study, 5-year-old ISs (model year 2021) list for 36.5% below the median new price of $55,164, about $20,135 of lost value.
How much does a IS cost to fuel per year?
About $3,517 a year at 15,000 miles, based on the EPA rating of 22 MPG combined and $5.158/gal premium (EIA, week of November 2, 2026).
Sources and method
Formula: 5-year total = depreciation (median new price × % below new at age 5) + fuel (75,000 mi ÷ EPA combined MPG × EIA national price, or kWh/100 mi × EIA residential rate for EVs) + insurance (NAIC national average expenditure × 5). Lines without a citable source are left blank.
- CarWhere car depreciation by model study — CarWhere Research (data as of 2026-10-25)
- Fuel economy data (vehicles.csv) — U.S. EPA / DOE, fueleconomy.gov
- Weekly U.S. retail gasoline and diesel prices — U.S. Energy Information Administration (week of November 2, 2026)
- Auto Insurance Database Report (average expenditure) — NAIC, via CarWhere state study (2023 data)
- 2025 Lexus RX 350 Warranty and Services Guide (Scheduled Maintenance chapter) — Lexus (opened 2026-11-06)
- 2026 Lexus NX 350 Warranty and Services Guide — Lexus (opened 2026-11-06)
- 2025 Lexus NX 350h Warranty and Services Guide — Lexus (opened 2026-11-06)
- 2025 Lexus IS 300 Warranty and Services Guide — Lexus (opened 2026-11-06)
- Lexus Maintenance (lexus.com) — Lexus (opened 2026-11-06)
- LexusCare eBrochure (lexus.com) — Lexus (opened 2026-11-06)