Auto Repair Costs Price History
1980–2025 · AAA / BLS
The average cost per auto repair visit in the United States, tracked from 1980 to 2025. Getting your car fixed has always been one of those expenses that hits at the worst possible time, but at least it used to be somewhat predictable. A typical repair visit ran about $95 in 1980. By 2025, that number has ballooned to $655. Modern vehicles are packed with sensors, cameras, and computer modules that make them safer and more efficient but dramatically more expensive to fix when something goes wrong.
Price in 1980
$95.00
Price in 2025
$655.00
Total Change
+589.5%
Years Tracked
45
Auto Repair Costs Over Time
Compare to inflation: The chart above shows nominal (not inflation-adjusted) prices. Use the toggle to switch to inflation-adjusted values when available, or try the inflation calculator to convert any amount between years.
Key Insights
- Repair costs roughly doubled between 1980 and 2000, climbing from $95 to $245 per visit. That was annoying but manageable. The real acceleration started after 2010, when advanced driver-assistance systems, turbocharged engines, and complex electronics began driving up both parts prices and labor rates.
- The post-pandemic surge has been especially painful, with average repair costs jumping from $490 in 2020 to $655 in 2025 — a 34% increase in just five years. Parts shortages, higher shipping costs, and a severe shortage of qualified technicians all share the blame.
- Modern safety features like automatic emergency braking and lane-keep assist are great at preventing accidents, but when they do get damaged, a simple fender bender can easily cost $3,000 or more to fix because of the sensors and cameras embedded in bumpers and windshields.
- The technician shortage is a growing crisis. The average age of an auto mechanic keeps rising, fewer young people are entering the trade, and the skills needed to work on today's vehicles are far more complex than a generation ago. That labor scarcity is putting upward pressure on shop rates nationwide.
Year-by-Year Data
| Year | Price (USD per visit) | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | $95.00 | — |
| 1981 | $105.00 | +10.5% |
| 1982 | $112.00 | +6.7% |
| 1983 | $118.00 | +5.4% |
| 1984 | $125.00 | +5.9% |
| 1985 | $132.00 | +5.6% |
| 1986 | $138.00 | +4.5% |
| 1987 | $145.00 | +5.1% |
| 1988 | $152.00 | +4.8% |
| 1989 | $160.00 | +5.3% |
| 1990 | $170.00 | +6.3% |
| 1991 | $178.00 | +4.7% |
| 1992 | $185.00 | +3.9% |
| 1993 | $192.00 | +3.8% |
| 1994 | $198.00 | +3.1% |
| 1995 | $205.00 | +3.5% |
| 1996 | $212.00 | +3.4% |
| 1997 | $220.00 | +3.8% |
| 1998 | $228.00 | +3.6% |
| 1999 | $235.00 | +3.1% |
| 2000 | $245.00 | +4.3% |
| 2001 | $255.00 | +4.1% |
| 2002 | $265.00 | +3.9% |
| 2003 | $275.00 | +3.8% |
| 2004 | $288.00 | +4.7% |
| 2005 | $300.00 | +4.2% |
| 2006 | $315.00 | +5.0% |
| 2007 | $330.00 | +4.8% |
| 2008 | $342.00 | +3.6% |
| 2009 | $338.00 | -1.2% |
| 2010 | $345.00 | +2.1% |
| 2011 | $358.00 | +3.8% |
| 2012 | $372.00 | +3.9% |
| 2013 | $385.00 | +3.5% |
| 2014 | $398.00 | +3.4% |
| 2015 | $412.00 | +3.5% |
| 2016 | $425.00 | +3.2% |
| 2017 | $440.00 | +3.5% |
| 2018 | $458.00 | +4.1% |
| 2019 | $475.00 | +3.7% |
| 2020 | $490.00 | +3.2% |
| 2021 | $520.00 | +6.1% |
| 2022 | $575.00 | +10.6% |
| 2023 | $610.00 | +6.1% |
| 2024 | $635.00 | +4.1% |
| 2025 | $655.00 | +3.1% |
Sources & Methodology
Average cost per repair visit at auto repair shops and dealership service departments nationwide. Data combines AAA Approved Auto Repair facility surveys with BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey data on vehicle maintenance and repair spending. Costs include parts and labor but exclude routine maintenance items like oil changes and tire rotations.
Primary source: AAA / BLS
For a full explanation of how we collect and adjust data, see our methodology page.