Nissan Altima Cost to Own
By CarWhere Research · Updated
A 2026 Nissan Altima costs about $32,173 over 5 years and 75,000 miles in depreciation, fuel and insurance. Depreciation is the biggest share at $15,010 (47.6% of the median new price); fuel $10,753 and national-average insurance $6,410 make up the rest. Scheduled maintenance, repairs and registration fees come on top.
5-year total
$32,173
depreciation + fuel + insurance
Depreciation
$15,010
47.6% of new price
Fuel
$10,753
$2,151/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 | $15,010 | $3,002 | $31,534 median new price (2026) × 47.6% below new for 5-year-old (2021) listings | CarWhere depreciation study |
| Fuel | $10,753 | $2,151 | 75,000 mi ÷ 29 MPG × $4.153/gal regular (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 Altima. | NAIC, by state |
| Scheduled maintenance | See note | — | Nissan Maintenance Care (Up to 3 oil changes within 2 years or 24,000 miles) is included; beyond its terms, the Nissan schedule below applies. No manufacturer-published service prices. | Nissan schedule |
| Registration and fees | Varies by state | — | State registration, title and taxes. | State title guides |
| Total | $32,173 | $6,435 | Depreciation + fuel + national-average insurance. Maintenance, repairs and fees not included. | |
Depreciation
New Altimas list for a median $31,534 (8,542 listings). In CarWhere’s used-market study, 2021 models (5 years old) list 47.6% below that, so a Altima loses about $15,010 in its first five years.
| Model year | Age | Median listing | Below new | Listings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 5 | $16,513 | 47.6% | 1,191 |
Fuel
The EPA rates the 2026 Altima at 29 MPG combined; 28–30 MPG across 2 EPA-listed versions. At $4.153/gal regular (EIA, week of November 2, 2026), 75,000 miles cost about $10,753, or $2,151 a year.
EPA versions included: Altima, Altima 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 Altima expensive to maintain?
Nissan's published oil-change interval: rogue: 7,500 miles or 12 months. Nissan Maintenance Care: up to 3 oil changes within 2 years or 24,000 miles. For the Altima: 2026: oil 10,000 mi/12 mo; CVT fluid replaced every 60,000 miles/72 months. We list the schedule rather than a dollar figure because Nissan doesn't publish service prices.
For repair patterns owners report, see Altima known issues.
Nissan Maintenance Care
Term: Up to 3 oil changes within 2 years or 24,000 miles, whichever comes first (announced for new 2025 Nissan vehicles; 2026 terms not confirmed on pages opened)
Covers: Oil changes with Genuine Nissan oil and filter, provided through Security+Plus Protection Plans. Excludes Nissan EVs, which are covered separately by EV Carefree+.
Oil changes
Normal: Rogue: 7,500 miles or 12 months. Altima: 10,000 miles or 12 months.
Severe or special conditions: Same as normal: Nissan's 2026 schedule lists the same oil interval for severe conditions on both models
Intervals come from Nissan's per-component schedule pages for the 2026 model year (default configuration, no VIN entered).
| Interval | Items | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Rogue — every 7,500 miles or 12 months |
| 2026 Nissan Rogue Service & Maintenance Guide — component intervals (maintenance-schedules.nissanusa.com) |
| Rogue — every 15,000 miles or 24 months |
| 2026 Nissan Rogue Service & Maintenance Guide — component intervals (maintenance-schedules.nissanusa.com) |
| Rogue — every 30,000 miles or 48 months |
| 2026 Nissan Rogue Service & Maintenance Guide — component intervals (maintenance-schedules.nissanusa.com) |
| Rogue — every 60,000 miles or 96 months |
| 2026 Nissan Rogue Service & Maintenance Guide — component intervals (maintenance-schedules.nissanusa.com) |
| Altima — every 10,000 miles or 12 months |
| 2026 Nissan Altima Service & Maintenance Guide — component intervals (maintenance-schedules.nissanusa.com) |
| Altima — every 20,000 miles or 24 months |
| 2026 Nissan Altima Service & Maintenance Guide — component intervals (maintenance-schedules.nissanusa.com) |
| Altima — every 30,000 miles or 36 months |
| 2026 Nissan Altima Service & Maintenance Guide — component intervals (maintenance-schedules.nissanusa.com) |
| Altima — every 60,000 miles or 72 months |
| 2026 Nissan Altima Service & Maintenance Guide — component intervals (maintenance-schedules.nissanusa.com) |
| Altima — every 105,000 miles or 126 months |
| 2026 Nissan Altima Service & Maintenance Guide — component intervals (maintenance-schedules.nissanusa.com) |
| 105,000 miles or 84 months (first) |
| 2026 Nissan Rogue Service & Maintenance Guide — component intervals (maintenance-schedules.nissanusa.com) |
Altima-specific notes
- 2026: oil 10,000 mi/12 mo
- CVT fluid replaced every 60,000 miles/72 months
- Spark plugs every 105,000 miles/126 months
- Drive belts first inspected at 40,000 mi/48 mo
More Altima research
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to own a Nissan Altima?
A 2026 Nissan Altima costs about $32,173 over 5 years and 75,000 miles in depreciation, fuel and insurance. Depreciation is the biggest share at $15,010 (47.6% of the median new price); fuel $10,753 and national-average insurance $6,410 make up the rest. Scheduled maintenance, repairs and registration fees come on top.
Is the Altima expensive to maintain?
Nissan's published oil-change interval: rogue: 7,500 miles or 12 months. Nissan Maintenance Care: up to 3 oil changes within 2 years or 24,000 miles. For the Altima: 2026: oil 10,000 mi/12 mo; CVT fluid replaced every 60,000 miles/72 months. We list the schedule rather than a dollar figure because Nissan doesn't publish service prices.
Is the Altima 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 Altima depreciate in 5 years?
In CarWhere's used-market study, 5-year-old Altimas (model year 2021) list for 47.6% below the median new price of $31,534, about $15,010 of lost value.
How much does a Altima cost to fuel per year?
About $2,151 a year at 15,000 miles, based on the EPA rating of 29 MPG combined; 28–30 MPG across 2 EPA-listed versions and $4.153/gal regular (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)
- 2026 Nissan Rogue Service & Maintenance Guide — component intervals (maintenance-schedules.nissanusa.com) — Nissan (opened 2026-11-06)
- 2026 Nissan Altima Service & Maintenance Guide — component intervals (maintenance-schedules.nissanusa.com) — Nissan (opened 2026-11-06)
- New Nissan Maintenance Care service program enhances ownership experience (Nissan USA newsroom, Jul 25 2024) — Nissan (opened 2026-11-06)