BLS Consumer Price Index

Auto Repair Cost Trends

Name: U.S. Auto Repair Cost Trends — BLS CPI
Creator: PlainCars
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

How much have auto repair, maintenance, and insurance costs changed? Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI program, updated monthly.

+37.6% repair costs since 2019

+47.6% insurance costs since 2019

+6.1% repair YoY (2024)

Maintenance & Repair CPI

407.3

2024 annual avg (1982–84=100)

▲ 6.1% YoY

Auto Insurance CPI

843.1

2024 annual avg (1982–84=100)

▲ 17.8% YoY

New Vehicle Prices CPI

295.7

2024 annual avg

▼ 5.1% YoY

Used Car Prices CPI

280.7

2024 annual avg

▼ 10.8% YoY

Annual Auto Cost Trends (2015–2024)

BLS CPI index values (base: 1982–84=100). Each annual value is the average of available monthly readings. YoY = year-over-year percent change.

Year	Maintenance CPI	Maint. YoY	Insurance CPI	Insur. YoY	New Vehicle CPI	Used Vehicle CPI
2015	270.7	—	460.6	—	212.0	197.5
2016	275.4	+1.7%	489.1	+6.2%	187.6	165.8
2017	280.8	+2.0%	526.9	+7.7%	211.8	191.0
2018	286.4	+2.0%	566.0	+7.4%	240.6	228.8
2019	296.0	+3.4%	571.0	+0.9%	232.0	221.2
2020	306.0	+3.4%	544.6	-4.6%	194.1	188.7
2021	317.9	+3.9%	565.3	+3.8%	264.0	237.7
2022	344.1	+8.2%	609.8	+7.9%	347.7	364.6
2023	383.8	+11.5%	716.0	+17.4%	311.6	314.8
2024	407.3	+6.1%	843.1	+17.8%	295.7	280.7

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U). Series CUUR0000SETD (maintenance), CUUR0000SETE (insurance), CUUR0000SETB01 (new vehicles), CUUR0000SETB02 (used vehicles) U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U). Series CUUR0000SETD (maintenance), CUUR0000SETE (insurance), CUUR0000SETB01 (new vehicles), CUUR0000SETB02 (used vehicles)

Monthly Maintenance & Repair CPI

Last 5 years of monthly data. Hover/tap rows to see YoY change.

Month	Maint. CPI	Maint. YoY	Insur. CPI	Insur. YoY
Dec 2024	417.312	+6.21%	868.417	+11.29%
Nov 2024	416.418	+5.71%	866.133	+12.74%
Oct 2024	415.598	+5.79%	865.985	+13.99%
Sep 2024	411.276	+4.86%	863.292	+16.30%
Aug 2024	407.374	+4.08%	854.307	+16.53%
Jul 2024	405.109	+4.64%	851.007	+18.56%
Jun 2024	406.321	+6.03%	843.579	+19.54%
May 2024	405.487	+7.22%	836.941	+20.26%
Apr 2024	404.380	+7.58%	839.077	+22.64%
Mar 2024	404.475	+8.19%	827.852	+22.20%
Feb 2024	397.541	+6.70%	806.444	+20.58%
Jan 2024	396.004	+6.52%	794.142	+20.60%
Dec 2023	392.897	+7.07%	780.284	+20.27%
Nov 2023	393.924	+8.46%	768.249	+19.23%
Oct 2023	392.861	+9.56%	759.704	+19.24%
Sep 2023	392.222	+10.15%	742.292	+18.85%
Aug 2023	391.395	+11.97%	733.141	+19.10%
Jul 2023	387.159	+12.65%	717.799	+17.75%
Jun 2023	383.196	+12.69%	705.717	+16.85%
May 2023	378.182	+13.48%	695.929	+17.07%
Apr 2023	375.890	+13.31%	684.166	+15.51%
Mar 2023	373.865	+13.30%	677.445	+14.99%
Feb 2023	372.572	+12.52%	668.806	+14.46%
Jan 2023	371.780	+14.24%	658.513	+14.72%
Dec 2022	366.960	+13.02%	648.771	+14.25%
Nov 2022	363.195	+11.73%	644.317	+13.39%
Oct 2022	358.597	+10.31%	637.103	+12.86%
Sep 2022	356.076	+11.12%	624.558	+10.30%
Aug 2022	349.539	+9.06%	615.559	+8.72%
Jul 2022	343.678	+8.06%	609.585	+7.42%
Jun 2022	340.058	+7.88%	603.932	+6.02%
May 2022	333.258	+6.08%	594.437	+4.47%
Apr 2022	331.735	+5.25%	592.317	+4.37%
Mar 2022	329.992	+4.87%	589.143	+4.24%
Feb 2022	331.130	+6.26%	584.317	+4.27%
Jan 2022	325.448	+4.76%	574.042	+4.08%
Dec 2021	324.688	+4.78%	567.875	+4.13%
Nov 2021	325.076	+4.88%	568.239	+5.67%
Oct 2021	325.095	+5.36%	564.507	+6.27%
Sep 2021	320.446	+3.97%	566.211	+4.76%
Aug 2021	320.504	+4.21%	566.183	+0.99%
Jul 2021	318.031	+4.08%	567.463	+1.65%
Jun 2021	315.209	+3.10%	569.656	+11.34%
May 2021	314.164	+2.81%	569.010	+16.90%
Apr 2021	315.177	+3.55%	567.509	+6.11%
Mar 2021	314.660	+3.46%	565.166	-2.47%
Feb 2021	311.627	+3.11%	560.386	-2.79%
Jan 2021	310.662	+3.52%	551.552	-3.69%
Dec 2020	309.888	+3.43%	545.376	-4.82%
Nov 2020	309.949	+3.57%	537.765	-5.98%
Oct 2020	308.569	+3.23%	531.217	-7.13%
Sep 2020	308.198	+3.27%	540.491	-5.03%
Aug 2020	307.554	+3.25%	560.623	-1.47%
Jul 2020	305.573	+3.45%	558.276	-1.89%
Jun 2020	305.736	+3.40%	511.639	-10.09%
May 2020	305.574	+3.73%	486.761	-14.35%
Apr 2020	304.376	+3.09%	534.842	-6.25%
Mar 2020	304.131	+3.37%	579.462	+1.11%
Feb 2020	302.220	+3.50%	576.450	+0.35%
Jan 2020	300.112	+3.22%	572.693	-0.04%

What Drives Auto Repair Costs Up?

🔧

Labor Rate Inflation

Mechanic labor rates have outpaced general inflation as technicians with EV and advanced driver-assistance system (ADAS) training become scarcer.

📦

Parts & Supply Chain

Global semiconductor shortages and supply chain disruptions drove parts prices sharply higher starting in 2021 — many categories remain elevated.

🚗

Vehicle Complexity

Modern vehicles with cameras, sensors, and advanced electronics cost significantly more to repair after collisions than prior-generation vehicles.

🛡️

Insurance Premiums

Auto insurance CPI has risen even faster than repair costs — up significantly since 2019 — as insurers respond to higher claim costs and climate-related losses.

⛽

Energy & Overhead

Shop overhead including energy, rent, and tools has increased, with costs passed to consumers through higher labor rates and service fees.

🔍

Manufacturer Recalls

Some high-profile recalls (airbags, ECUs) have increased demand for specialized repair work, straining capacity at authorized dealerships.

Understanding repair cost trends is only part of the picture. Search NHTSA complaints to see which vehicles have the most common failure patterns — and what they typically cost to fix.

Most Complained Vehicles → Reliability Scores Complaints by Component

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the BLS CPI for auto maintenance and repair?

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Consumer Price Index (CPI) for Motor Vehicle Maintenance and Repair (series CUUR0000SETD) measures the average change over time in prices paid by U.S. consumers for auto maintenance and repair services, including labor, parts, and fluids. The base period is 1982–84, meaning an index value of 417 means prices are 4.17× what they were in 1982–84.

How much have auto repair costs increased since 2019?

Based on BLS CPI data, motor vehicle maintenance and repair costs rose approximately 37.6% between 2019 and 2024. Auto insurance costs rose even more sharply over the same period. These figures represent national averages — individual repair costs vary by region, vehicle type, and repair complexity.

Does PlainCars show metro-level repair cost data?

The BLS publishes detailed CPI breakdowns for the SETD (maintenance) category only at the national level. Metro-level CPI data for this specific subcategory is not published separately by BLS. We display the national trend, which reflects the aggregate U.S. experience.

How does CPI data differ from actual repair shop prices?

CPI measures average price change across a standardized basket of auto service transactions. Your actual bill depends on your specific vehicle, what failed, where you live, and whether you use a dealership, independent shop, or chain repair service. CPI is the most reliable national benchmark for long-term cost inflation trends.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), Not Seasonally Adjusted. Series CUUR0000SETD, CUUR0000SETE, CUUR0000SETB01, CUUR0000SETB02. Data updated through 2024. PlainCars is not affiliated with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Reviewed by PlainCars Editorial, Vehicle Safety Editorial Team · June 14, 2026