Compare near-term maintenance and repair costs with the cost and commitments of changing vehicle.
Compare the next 12–24 months, not one repair bill
A large MOT, tyre or service quote can make changing car feel automatically cheaper. It often is not. Separate overdue maintenance from true unexpected repair, then compare the realistic cost of keeping the current car with the complete cost of the alternative.
Cost of keeping
List essential repairs, tyres, scheduled servicing, MOT, tax, insurance, fuel/energy and a sensible contingency for likely age-related work. Do not count routine maintenance as if it disappears when you change car; every vehicle has tyres, servicing and consumables.
Cost of changing
Include deposit or initial rental, monthly finance/lease payments, insurance difference, tax, fuel/charging, servicing, tyres, fees and the opportunity cost of cash used. For a purchase, consider depreciation; for a lease, include mileage and return obligations.
Reliability and downtime
Cost is not the only factor. Repeated breakdowns, uncertain major faults, accessibility needs or dependence on the vehicle for work can justify paying more for predictability. Conversely, a known car with one repair may be less risky than an unknown used replacement.
Make the decision explicit
Write down the assumptions and compare scenarios over the same period and mileage. TyreDeck’s role is to expose the trade-offs, not push a lease simply because an affiliate offer exists.
Lease, finance, hire, warranty and maintenance terms vary by provider and contract. Check the documents that apply to your vehicle before spending money or relying on general guidance.
What to do next
Gather the relevant contract, vehicle handbook, recent invoices and real mileage/cost figures. Compare like-for-like options over the same period rather than deciding from a headline monthly payment.