MarginWorkshopRepair vs. Replace Work Truck
Compare repairing your current truck again against replacing it, on a real cost-per-year basis, with the remaining-life break-even point.
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Methodology
Formula: Repair cost/year = (repair cost / remaining life) + extra maintenance. Replacement cost/year = (replacement cost - salvage) / new truck expected life.
Assumption: A pure cost-per-year comparison; does not model downtime risk from an aging truck’s rising failure rate (see Vehicle Downtime Cost).
Limitation: The remaining-life break-even is only meaningful when the replacement cost/year exceeds your extra annual maintenance if kept.
Frequently Asked
- How is annual cost compared between repairing and replacing?
- Both options are converted to a cost-per-year figure, repair cost against the remaining expected life of the current truck, replacement cost against the new truck's expected life and any resale or trade-in value.
- What is the remaining-life point where the answer flips?
- As a truck's remaining useful life shortens, its annualized repair cost rises relative to a replacement's longer life; there is a specific remaining-life threshold below which replacing becomes the cheaper annual option.
- Does this include the downtime cost of the repair itself?
- Include shop time as part of the repair cost comparison if it is significant; a repair that takes a truck out of service for days has a real cost beyond the invoice, covered separately by Vehicle Downtime Cost.
- What if the truck has ongoing, recurring issues?
- A pattern of repeated repairs is itself useful evidence: enter your realistic expected annual repair cost going forward, not just the cost of the one repair currently in front of you.