I am getting the maintenance required message thinking it's for an oil change

Hope springs eternal.
My point being....you would hope or believe, a Toyota Service Center would have at least cursory knowledge of how to handle a Prius. And there are differences.

The only other option, and it's perfectly viable, is to seek out a specialized independent hybrid shop. But depending on where you live? That might be a challenge.
Or of course, D.I.Y. .

Otherwise the equation is always, probably technicians or mechanics NOT versed or familiar with Hybrids and Prius, which IMO can be detrimental.

I've read my share of threads of owners trying to save a buck or two, and dropping their Prius off at a generic high volume, type of service center and then suddenly their Prius develops any number of "problems".

I'm still going to say, seeking a service center out...that you can gain confidence in, that IS familiar with hybrids and Prius is a worthy en devour for anyone that owns a Prius and/or Hybrid.
Especially if you don't plan on doing a lot of work yourself.

 

don't feel bad, i pay $90.

 

That's a very fair price, all things considered.They've got a retail location, business license, expensive lifts, air tools, oodles of equipment, wages and insurance. Sure it goes fast for a pro, but that didn't just happen: it takes all that investment.

A good yardstick: consider doing it yourself. It'd probably take at least 2 hours, with all the prep, wheel chocks on the rear tires, raising the car with a lowly floor jack, getting safety stands in (or the car up on ramps).

Then dealing with the engine underpanel, and here: I'd recommend you take the whole thing off, the little flap at the oil pan is a piss-poor design, very fragile.

Martial wrenches, extensions, sockets, torque wrench, oil catcher, rags, gloves, funnel, new oil, filter and drain bolt washer. The oil/filter/washer will likely set you back at least $30.

Last but not least, factor in a trip to the recycler with the used oil and filter. For me at least, that's just a couple of 100 yards down a trail.

 

How miles you’re projected to drive before the next change?

 

So, since I drive 1000 miles per week, i get my oil changed and tires rotated every month. To do all that, the local small town shop was charging me $58 plus tax, so around $61-62. No harm no foul, seems reasonable. But then I do all other repairs myself and while changing a wheel bearing, i had forgotten to chock the rear wheel and the car fell (thankfully not on me), so for christmas and birthday I ordered this garage lift. But to "justify" the lift expense, I now have to do ALL maintenance items with the car. I've gotten my oil change down to 45 min if the kiddo stays out of my hair, but I also do other things when the oil is draining. When the auto stores are running the oil/filter deals, i get it that way, otherwise I get everything from Amazon, keep it in stock and just do the change when it's needed. With all the other equipment (moped, lawn tractors, lawn mowers, etc...) i'm always making a trip to recycle oil. Like Mendel, the closest auto store is a click up the road.

long of the short, not a bad price. Like I said, I only am doing because having the lift makes life sooooo much better than using a jack and stands. A tire rotation takes less than 10 min. Thankfully synthetic oil prices are dropping, making oil changes much more economical.

(*side note, I think Lexus charges well over $100 for an oil change and the last time they did it for me, it took them TWO FREAKING HOURS!!!!! With me in the waiting room trying to wrangle a 3 year old and 8 month old, needless to say, I was not happy).

 

Where's the safety collapse system on that lift? Something that if it fails at least locks it in pretty close to the height you had it? I wouldn't get under that... FYI, the $50 ramps work well on the Prius too.

Our Lexus oil changes happen when the car is parked somewhere. They send someone to pick it up, and drop off a loaner and then drop it back off and take the loaner. They can drop off and pickup at home, work, or even out at a restaurant. Doesn't matter. If we do take it in, we get a loaner if we want.

 

the lift has two bars on each side that lock the lift out. In fact, you raise the lift until they lock, then take the pressure off the hydraulic pump. It actually has 2 different lockout positions. I spent a lot of time researching, watching vids, reviews, etc before pulling the trigger. Not gonna lie, I love it! It stores easily in the garage and takes up barely any space. I mounted the pump on the wall and where the hoses can reach whatever car I lift. It's also portable. It can be used out in the driveway, or I can take it north to my mom's and work on her car. Just last week, my sister came to visit and I was able to change her oil and do her rear brakes in less than 2 hours (not a car I was use to, so I had to figure what all needed to be done.)

My ramps were too steep to clear the bumper, but I made some 2x10 extensions for the ramps to get the clearance. The problem with the ramps is you can't do the tire rotation at the same time. Also, I go under the car with the tires still on, start draining, come out do the tire rotation, put the new filter in, plug, back out and drop the car back down to fill. I honestly have no fear being under the car with that lift.

My local shop would also come and pick up my car while I was at work and have it back by the end of the day. No loaner, but didn't really need one while working. I highly doubt Lexus would do this for me as the closest dealer is 75 miles from my work. We technically haven't been offered a "we come to you" option in the past, but they have offered a loaner when we drop off a car. However, the last oil change that took sooo long, they said it would be 30-45 min and instead of moving both kids seats and all the other stuff, i opted to wait. I was fine the first hour, not so fine the second.

 

5 qts of Full synthetic with the filter deal at autozone is $36-40. Conventional oil is less expensive. But that same 5 qts use to cost over $60.

I don't know If I would say it has less parts than a traditional car. If anything, wouldn't it have more?? The entire hybrid system is additional. On the ICE side, it's the same engine as a corolla.

 

I do floor jack and safety stands (the latter at points more solid than the scissor jack location), and heavy rubber wheel chocks fore and aft of each rear tire, with the parking brake off. On a level slab. Then, before I crawl under, I push this tree trunk section under. It's about 14" diameter by 14" long, push it in, just beyond my work zone. If the worst happens, the chunk of wood is thicker than me. And I have my cell phone on me.

My latest jack is a 3 ton, bought at Summit Tools maybe 12 years back, on Boxing Day, for $69 (CDN).

 

Not to be misunderstood, my car fell off a floor jack and jack stands NOT from the quickjack.

I don’t have a problem using floor jack and stands, but the lift gets all four tires off at the same time. Ya’ll should see the vids and reviews on this thing. It’s safer than it seems you are thinking.


-Spiral

 

Tempting, just the kind of thing I know I have to turn away from.

 

Agree, I do my own and the oil and filter change and tire rotation are less than 1 hour. I use a floor jack to do the tire rotation and set the first one I take off up on a piece of tree trunk I cut just to the right size for this job, so I do have to jack up the car 5 times but no biggie with a floor jack. I used to do it with a small hydraulic bottle jack.
For the oil change I have 2 metal heavy duty ramps I drive up on. I get mobile one (or any brand name synthetic) oil from Walmart when on sale for about $18- 23 so I buy several, and I purchased a case of filter inserts off Amazon. I will also change my cvt fluid next oil change (at 54k miles) I ordered Toyota fluid from Amazon and I have a flexible tube to pour the fluid back in from the top (under the hood). I did this on on my old Gen2 Prius, it worked great!
So my oil changes run me under 30 bucks and I save 20 more on the tire rotation (although I've never paid for one).
I save money, time, and I know the job is done correctly!