With seamless travel, smooth roads and zero potholes along the new North Luzon Expressway, motorists are expected to realize significant savings in vehicle operating costs and maintenance.

A study conducted by the University of the Philippines Planning and Development Research Foundation, Inc. (UP Planades) showed that decreased costs as a result of the improved road structure of the NLEX far outweigh the increase in toll fees. The study revealed that the better the road surface, the lower the operating and maintenance costs of the vehicles, as well as the cost, measured in terms of travel time, for the motorists.

Operating and maintenance costs include fuel, brake fluid, brake pads and other items consumed while driving the vehicle, plus the vehicle's depreciation caused by the wear and tear of its parts. Time cost, on the other hand, is the value of time to motorists, computed as manhours spent traveling along the expressway.