Toyota Highlander Cost to Own
By CarWhere Research · Updated
A 2026 Toyota Highlander costs about $46,526 over 5 years and 75,000 miles in depreciation, fuel and insurance. Depreciation is the biggest share at $27,138 (47.3% of the median new price); fuel $12,978 and national-average insurance $6,410 make up the rest. Scheduled maintenance, repairs and registration fees come on top.
5-year total
$46,526
depreciation + fuel + insurance
Depreciation
$27,138
47.3% of new price
Fuel
$12,978
$2,596/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 | $27,138 | $5,428 | $57,374 median new price (2026) × 47.3% below new for 5-year-old (2021) listings | CarWhere depreciation study |
| Fuel | $12,978 | $2,596 | 75,000 mi ÷ 24 MPG × $4.153/gal regular | EPA × EIA November 2, 2026 |
| Insurance | $6,410 | $1,282 | U.S. average expenditure per insured car (2023) × 5 years. Not specific to the Highlander. | NAIC, by state |
| Scheduled maintenance | See note | — | ToyotaCare (2 years or 25,000 miles) is included; beyond its terms, the Toyota schedule below applies. No manufacturer-published service prices. | Toyota schedule |
| Registration and fees | Varies by state | — | State registration, title and taxes. | State title guides |
| Total | $46,526 | $9,305 | Depreciation + fuel + national-average insurance. Maintenance, repairs and fees not included. | |
Depreciation
New Highlanders list for a median $57,374 (6,200 listings). In CarWhere’s used-market study, 2021 models (5 years old) list 47.3% below that, so a Highlander loses about $27,138 in its first five years.
| Model year | Age | Median listing | Below new | Listings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 5 | $30,260 | 47.3% | 2,305 |
Fuel
The EPA rates the 2026 Highlander at 24 MPG combined. At $4.153/gal regular (EIA, week of November 2, 2026), 75,000 miles cost about $12,978, or $2,596 a year. The hybrid version (35 MPG) works out to about $8,899 over the same miles.
EPA versions included: Highlander 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 Highlander expensive to maintain?
Toyota's published oil-change interval: 10,000 miles or 12 months, whichever comes first. ToyotaCare: 2 years or 25,000 miles. For the Highlander: spark plugs every 40,000 miles; AWD: replace rear differential and transfer case oil every 30,000 miles. We list the schedule rather than a dollar figure because Toyota doesn't publish service prices.
For repair patterns owners report, see Highlander known issues.
ToyotaCare
Term: 2 years or 25,000 miles, whichever comes first, for model years 2026 and earlier (the current base term is 1 year or 10,000 miles; Mirai gets 3 years or 35,000 miles)
Covers: Normal factory-scheduled maintenance plus 24/7 Roadside Assistance. Roadside runs 2 years with unlimited miles (3 years for Prius, BEVs, PHEVs and Mirai) and covers towing up to 25 miles, but not parts or fluids. ToyotaCare is valid only in the continental U.S.
Source: toyota.com 2026 Tacoma offer page — ToyotaCare footnote
Oil changes
Normal: 10,000 miles or 12 months, whichever comes first
Severe or special conditions: 5,000 miles or 6 months: mostly dirt/dusty roads, or repeated trips under 5 miles in below-freezing temperatures
The guides send owners to the Owner's Manual for oil viscosity and don't list a grade. Toyota schedules a maintenance visit every 5,000 miles or 6 months.
| Interval | Items | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Every 5,000 miles or 6 months |
| 2026 Camry Warranty & Maintenance Guide (Toyota) |
| Every 10,000 miles or 12 months |
| 2026 Camry Warranty & Maintenance Guide (Toyota) |
| Every 15,000 miles |
| 2026 Camry Warranty & Maintenance Guide (Toyota) |
| Every 30,000 miles |
| 2026 Corolla Warranty & Maintenance Guide (Toyota) |
| 40,000 / 80,000 / 120,000 miles |
| 2026 Highlander Warranty & Maintenance Guide (Toyota) |
| 120,000 miles |
| 2026 Corolla Warranty & Maintenance Guide (Toyota) |
| 100,000 miles or 120 months (first) |
| 2026 Corolla Warranty & Maintenance Guide (Toyota) |
| 150,000 miles or 180 months (first, hybrids) |
| 2026 Camry Warranty & Maintenance Guide (Toyota) |
| Special conditions (towing, car-top carrier, heavy loads) |
| 2026 Tacoma Warranty & Maintenance Guide (Toyota) |
Highlander-specific notes
- 2026 guide has no hybrid items (gas turbo)
- Spark plugs every 40,000 miles
- AWD: replace rear differential and transfer case oil every 30,000 miles
Source: 2026 Highlander Warranty & Maintenance Guide (Toyota)
Prices the manufacturer publishes
- ToyotaCare scheduled maintenance: No cost (toyota.com: 'a no cost scheduled maintenance plan') (toyota.com 2026 Tacoma offer page — ToyotaCare footnote)
More Highlander research
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to own a Toyota Highlander?
A 2026 Toyota Highlander costs about $46,526 over 5 years and 75,000 miles in depreciation, fuel and insurance. Depreciation is the biggest share at $27,138 (47.3% of the median new price); fuel $12,978 and national-average insurance $6,410 make up the rest. Scheduled maintenance, repairs and registration fees come on top.
Is the Highlander expensive to maintain?
Toyota's published oil-change interval: 10,000 miles or 12 months, whichever comes first. ToyotaCare: 2 years or 25,000 miles. For the Highlander: spark plugs every 40,000 miles; AWD: replace rear differential and transfer case oil every 30,000 miles. We list the schedule rather than a dollar figure because Toyota doesn't publish service prices.
Is the Highlander 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 Highlander depreciate in 5 years?
In CarWhere's used-market study, 5-year-old Highlanders (model year 2021) list for 47.3% below the median new price of $57,374, about $27,138 of lost value.
How much does a Highlander cost to fuel per year?
About $2,596 a year at 15,000 miles, based on the EPA rating of 24 MPG combined and $4.153/gal regular (EIA, week of November 2, 2026). The hybrid version (35 MPG) works out to about $1,780 a year.
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 Camry Warranty & Maintenance Guide (Toyota) — Toyota (opened 2026-11-06)
- 2026 Corolla Warranty & Maintenance Guide (Toyota) — Toyota (opened 2026-11-06)
- 2025 RAV4 Warranty & Maintenance Guide (Toyota) — Toyota (opened 2026-11-06)
- 2026 Highlander Warranty & Maintenance Guide (Toyota) — Toyota (opened 2026-11-06)
- 2026 Tacoma Warranty & Maintenance Guide (Toyota) — Toyota (opened 2026-11-06)
- 2026 Tundra Warranty & Maintenance Guide (Toyota) — Toyota (opened 2026-11-06)
- 2026 4Runner Warranty & Maintenance Guide (Toyota) — Toyota (opened 2026-11-06)
- 2026 Prius Warranty & Maintenance Guide (Toyota) — Toyota (opened 2026-11-06)
- ToyotaCare & Maintenance Plans (toyota.com) — Toyota (opened 2026-11-06)
- toyota.com 2026 Tacoma offer page — ToyotaCare footnote — Toyota (opened 2026-11-06)