Ram 1500 Cost to Own

Name: Ram 1500 5-year cost to own
Creator: CarWhere Research
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

By CarWhere Research · Updated November 6, 2026

A 2026 Ram 1500 costs about $57,763 over 5 years and 75,000 miles in depreciation, fuel and insurance. Depreciation is the biggest share at $32,803 (51.3% of the median new price); fuel $18,550 and national-average insurance $6,410 make up the rest. Scheduled maintenance, repairs and registration fees come on top.

5-year total

$57,763

depreciation + fuel + insurance

Depreciation

$32,803

51.3% of new price

Fuel

$18,550

$3,710/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.

Ram 1500: 5-year cost lines
Line	5 years	Per year	How it’s calculated	Source
Depreciation	$32,803	$6,561	$63,944 median new price (2026) × 51.3% below new for 5-year-old (2021) listings	CarWhere depreciation study
Fuel	$18,550	$3,710	75,000 mi ÷ 18.5 MPG × $4.153/gal regular, $5.158/gal premium, $4.757/gal midgrade (median of 10 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 1500.	NAIC, by state
Scheduled maintenance	Not priced	—	Intervals and items from the Ram schedule below. No manufacturer-published service prices.	Ram schedule
Registration and fees	Varies by state	—	State registration, title and taxes.	State title guides
Total	$57,763	$11,553	Depreciation + fuel + national-average insurance. Maintenance, repairs and fees not included.

Depreciation

New 1500s list for a median $63,944 (45,303 listings). In CarWhere’s used-market study, 2021 models (5 years old) list 51.3% below that, so a 1500 loses about $32,803 in its first five years.

Model years used
Model year	Age	Median listing	Below new	Listings
2021	5	$31,148	51.3%	4,637

Fuel

The EPA rates the 2026 1500 at 18.5 MPG combined; 12–22 MPG across 10 EPA-listed versions. At $4.153/gal regular, $5.158/gal premium, $4.757/gal midgrade (EIA, week of November 2, 2026), 75,000 miles cost about $18,550, or $3,710 a year.

EPA versions included: 1500 2WD, 1500 4WD, 1500 HO 4WD, 1500 RHO 4WD, 1500 Warlock 4WD.

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 1500 expensive to maintain?

Ram's published oil-change interval: per automatic oil change indicator (duty-cycle based); service within 500 miles of the 'Oil Change Required' message. For the 1500: spark plugs: 3.0L every 60,000 mi; 5.7L every 100,000 mi (mileage-based only).. We list the schedule rather than a dollar figure because Ram doesn't publish service prices.

For repair patterns owners report, see 1500 known issues.

Oil changes

Normal: Per automatic oil change indicator (duty-cycle based); service within 500 miles of the 'Oil Change Required' message. Never exceed 10,000 miles, 12 months, or 350 hours of engine run time, whichever comes first.

Severe or special conditions: Indicator shortens the interval for short trips, trailer towing, and extreme hot/cold temperatures; no separate fixed severe mileage stated for the 1500 in this handbook.

Oil: 3.0L standard-output, 3.6L and 5.7L: full synthetic SAE 0W-20 (MS-6395, API SP). 3.0L High Output: full synthetic SAE 0W-40 (MS-A0921, API SP).

Source: 2026 Ram 1500 Owner Handbook — Scheduled Servicing & Fluids

Ram scheduled maintenance (manufacturer schedule; items paraphrased)
Interval	Items	Source
Every oil change (per indicator)	Change oil and filter Rotate tires at first sign of irregular wear Inspect battery/terminals Inspect CV/universal joints Inspect brake pads, shoes, rotors, drums, hoses Inspect cooling system and hoses Inspect exhaust Inspect engine air filter if dusty/off-road Inspect/replace EVAP fresh-air filter as needed	2026 Ram 1500 Owner Handbook — Scheduled Servicing & Fluids
Every 10,000 miles	Rotate tires (or sooner if tread-depth difference is 2/32 in. or more) Inspect CV/universal joints	2026 Ram 1500 Owner Handbook — Scheduled Servicing & Fluids
Every 12,000 miles	Inspect cabin air filter, replace as needed	2026 Ram 1500 Owner Handbook — Scheduled Servicing & Fluids
Every 15,000 miles	Inspect front suspension and tie rod ends Inspect brake linings Adjust parking brake as needed	2026 Ram 1500 Owner Handbook — Scheduled Servicing & Fluids
Every 24 months	Change brake fluid (time-based only)	2026 Ram 1500 Owner Handbook — Scheduled Servicing & Fluids
Every 30,000 miles	Replace engine air filter Inspect axles for leakage; change axle fluid if used for police/taxi/fleet/off-road/frequent towing Inspect transfer case fluid under heavy/off-road/fleet use	2026 Ram 1500 Owner Handbook — Scheduled Servicing & Fluids
Every 60,000 miles	Replace spark plugs (3.0L)	2026 Ram 1500 Owner Handbook — Scheduled Servicing & Fluids
Every 100,000 miles	Replace spark plugs (5.7L) Replace PCV valve if necessary	2026 Ram 1500 Owner Handbook — Scheduled Servicing & Fluids
Every 120,000 miles	Change transfer case fluid	2026 Ram 1500 Owner Handbook — Scheduled Servicing & Fluids
10 years or 150,000 miles	Flush and replace engine coolant Replace accessory drive belt Inspect belt tensioner and pulley	2026 Ram 1500 Owner Handbook — Scheduled Servicing & Fluids

1500-specific notes

Spark plugs: 3.0L every 60,000 mi; 5.7L every 100,000 mi (mileage-based only).
3.0L High Output engine uses 0W-40; other engines 0W-20.
Brake fluid every 24 months regardless of mileage.

Source: 2026 Ram 1500 Owner Handbook — Scheduled Servicing & Fluids

More 1500 research

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to own a Ram 1500?

Is the 1500 expensive to maintain?

Is the 1500 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 1500 depreciate in 5 years?

In CarWhere's used-market study, 5-year-old 1500s (model year 2021) list for 51.3% below the median new price of $63,944, about $32,803 of lost value.

How much does a 1500 cost to fuel per year?

About $3,710 a year at 15,000 miles, based on the EPA rating of 18.5 MPG combined; 12–22 MPG across 10 EPA-listed versions and $4.153/gal regular, $5.158/gal premium, $4.757/gal midgrade (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 Ram 1500 Owner Handbook — Scheduled Servicing & Fluids — Ram (opened 2026-11-06)