Today, many modern cars have computer systems that monitor maintenance schedules and send reminders about service. But if your car is without this system or you prefer a more comprehensive and flexible view of maintenance that can be managed from the palm of your hand, you may want to consider a car maintenance app.

Some maintenance apps cost money to download but if you’re looking for the best free car maintenance app, there are plenty to choose from! Scope and functionality may vary from app to app, but most perform similar maintenance-monitoring functions.

Some car maintenance tracking apps even go a step further to record past service events, analyze fuel usage and serve as a point of reference for everything beyond just oil changes.

Here, we’ll provide an overview of some popular free car maintenance apps that people use every day to lessen the burden of routine maintenance and avoid potential mechanical neglect. 

1. CarFAX Car Care

The CarFAX Car Care app gets some of the highest ratings in the industry for its maintenance-tracking capabilities. Available for both iOS and Android, this app can track and provide service reminders for up to eight vehicles, provides cost estimates for repairs, catalogs past service history and even issues important safety recalls. Through this app, CarFAX promises to give you everything you need to maintain your car and preserve its value in one place.

2. Openbay

Though slightly newer to the car maintenance tracker market, Openbay’s unique scheduling features are gaining traction with users who want access to a nationwide network of auto repair and auto body shops. On top of newer capabilities such as cost estimates and the ability to book services, Openbay still provides the maintenance reminders and past-service cataloging that’s foundational for many drivers. The app is free on both iOS and Android.

3. Simply Auto

 The only app that allows users to track fuel economy based on octane, Simply Auto is winning drivers over for this feature and more. Available for free, the app offers everything you’d require from a car maintenance app and helps you easily record all tax-deductible or reimbursable mileage with its GPS-tracking capabilities. Drive an EV? Simply Auto app has you covered with kilowatt-hour (kWh) tracking as well.

4. Fuelly

 Available for iPhone only, this free, 4.5-star rated app is a popular option for those who want to set up reminders for service and track other basic vehicle information. As the name implies, Fuelly excels at tracking fuel cost and consumption for your car.

5. aCar

This is the Android version of Fuelly and according to reviews, Android users designate aCar as a best free car maintenance app. Manage, track and log activities for everything from standard maintenance and fuel mileage to accident reports and trip expenses. This app can also record and track activity for multiple vehicles and is available for download on the Google Play Store.  

6. FIXD

If you’re the curious type that wants to know more than just your next service due date, FIXD may be the best car maintenance app for you. Available for free on iOS and Android, FIXD explains what needs to be done on your car and why. Top features include car health monitoring, explanations of fault codes, estimates for repair, maintenance reminders and service records. And like many of the other apps that come highly recommended, FIXD can monitor the recommended services and maintenance for multiple vehicles at one time.

7. Drivvo

Currently holding one of the highest car maintenance app ratings (4.6-stars), Drivvo has been downloaded more than 1.5 million times and distinguishes itself by a clean and simple interface. There is a pro version of the app that allows you to sync your vehicle data to the cloud for a minimal annual fee, but the free version works reliably well for multiple-vehicle maintenance tracking, fuel analysis and service-records storage. 

What are some broader benefits of car maintenance tracker apps?

We’ve discussed some of the best free car maintenance apps on the market and reviewed their core capabilities. But features and functionality aside, car maintenance apps can help you in a broad variety of ways:

• Reduce the potential for breakdown – By helping you adhere to a preventative maintenance schedule; car maintenance apps can identify issues early so that you can potentially avoid unexpected breakdowns.
• Reduce expenses – Car maintenance tracker apps help you record costs, budget for car-care expenses and identify areas for savings.
• Improve efficiency – By streamlining your car maintenance tasks (and even performing digital inspections in some instances), car maintenance apps save you time and effort in your day-to-day life.
• Help you make informed decisions – Car-shop speak can be intimidating, especially when tied to high repair costs. Many car maintenance apps provide you the valuable insights you need to understand technical mechanical lingo and make more informed decisions before you shell out money on repairs. 
  

Choosing the best vehicle maintenance app may feel like a strategic decision, but in today’s age of rapidly advancing technologies, almost any app you select will help you stay on top of basic vehicle needs and recommended services.

While there may be an initial set-up and learning curve that requires the input of specific vehicle information, most app interfaces are built to be intuitive and easy to navigate. If you’re a less tech-savvy user, give yourself time to adjust to the navigation and to customize your push-button notifications and messaging.

Remember, preventative maintenance is cheaper than repair, and provided you install all recommended app updates, a vehicle maintenance app is a reliable way of keeping your vehicle running safely, efficiently and affordably for years to come.