How Much Does Car Repair Cost? (2026 Data)
The average U.S. household spent $1,241 on vehicle maintenance and repairs in 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Prices are still rising: the CPI for motor vehicle maintenance and repair was up 5.8% in the year to September 2026, against 3.7% overall inflation, and is up 70% over ten years, against 40% for all items.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (Consumer Expenditure Surveys and Consumer Price Index) · Data pulled November 2026 · By CarWhere Research · Methodology
Household spending, 2025
$1,241
Vehicle maintenance & repairs, average per household
Repair prices, past 12 months
+5.8%
CPI maintenance & repair, September 2026 vs. a year earlier
Repair prices, 10 years
+70.2%
vs. +39.6% for all consumer prices
Average spending on car maintenance and repairs, 2016–2025
Average annual spending per U.S. household (“consumer unit”) on vehicle maintenance and repairs. That's about 46% more than in 2016.
| Year | Avg. spending | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,241 | +26.1% | |
| 2024 | $984 | +0.9% | |
| 2023 | $975 | -15.9% | |
| 2022 | $1,160 | +19.0% | |
| 2021 | $975 | +10.9% | |
| 2020 | $879 | -0.9% | |
| 2019 | $887 | -0.3% | |
| 2018 | $890 | -6.7% | |
| 2017 | $954 | +12.4% | |
| 2016 | $849 | — |
Read the 2025 jump (+26.1%) with care. For 2025, BLS changed the publication source of a subcomponent of “other vehicle expenses” from the Interview Survey to the Diary Survey, and the October–November 2025 lapse in appropriations stopped data collection for two months (BLS reweighted for the gap). BLS doesn't say which subcomponent moved, so part of the increase may be a measurement change, not new spending. Source: BLS, Consumer Expenditures in 2025.
Who spends the most on car repairs
2025 average spending on vehicle maintenance and repairs by household income, age and region, with 2024 for comparison.
Income quintile (before taxes)
| Group | 2025 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Lowest 20% | $565 | $394 |
| Second 20% | $868 | $693 |
| Third 20% | $1,118 | $950 |
| Fourth 20% | $1,426 | $1,174 |
| Highest 20% | $2,237 | $1,707 |
Age of reference person
| Group | 2025 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Under 25 | $671 | $537 |
| 25–34 | $960 | $855 |
| 35–44 | $1,113 | $1,064 |
| 45–54 | $1,776 | $1,263 |
| 55–64 | $1,428 | $1,154 |
| 65–74 | $1,373 | $934 |
| 75 and older | $827 | $643 |
Region
| Group | 2025 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Northeast | $1,095 | $986 |
| Midwest | $1,525 | $1,037 |
| South | $1,033 | $822 |
| West | $1,446 | $1,222 |
The top income fifth spent $2,237, about 4.0× the $565 spent by the bottom fifth. Those averages reflect how many vehicles a household owns and how new they are, not only repair prices.
Car repair price inflation by category
Consumer Price Index (CPI-U, U.S. city average, not seasonally adjusted). The index tracks the price of the same services over time, so it measures what a repair costs, not how much people spend.
| CPI category | 1 year | 5 years | 10 years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Motor vehicle maintenance and repair (all) CUUR0000SETD | +5.8% | +46.2% | +70.2% |
| Motor vehicle repair CUUR0000SETD03 | +3.5% | +61.6% | +84.1% |
| Motor vehicle maintenance and servicing CUUR0000SETD02 | +7.8% | +37.3% | +61.5% |
| Motor vehicle body work CUUR0000SETD01 | +6.0% | +32.8% | +61.0% |
| Motor vehicle parts and equipment CUUR0000SETC | +0.8% | +19.6% | +32.8% |
| Tires CUUR0000SETC01 | +0.2% | +18.2% | +28.3% |
| All items (overall inflation) CUUR0000SA0 | +3.7% | +22.8% | +39.6% |
Changes measured September 2026 vs. September 2025, 2021 and 2016. Source: BLS CPI.
The labor-heavy categories lead. Motor vehicle repair is up 84% in ten years, while parts and equipment rose 33% and tires 28%, both below overall inflation.
Repair prices vs. overall inflation, 2016–2025
| Year | Maintenance & repair index | Change | All-items change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 431.4 | +5.9% | +2.6% |
| 2024 | 407.3 | +6.1% | +2.9% |
| 2023 | 383.8 | +11.5% | +4.1% |
| 2022 | 344.1 | +8.2% | +8.0% |
| 2021 | 317.9 | +3.9% | +4.7% |
| 2020 | 306.0 | +3.4% | +1.2% |
| 2019 | 296.0 | +3.4% | +1.8% |
| 2018 | 286.4 | +2.0% | +2.4% |
| 2017 | 280.8 | +2.0% | +2.1% |
| 2016 | 275.4 | — | — |
Annual averages, CPI-U series CUUR0000SETD and CUUR0000SA0. BLS computed the 2025 average from 11 months because October 2025 CPI data weren't published during the lapse in appropriations.
How to keep repair costs down
- Check for open recalls first. Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer. Run your VIN through the recall check.
- Get two or three written estimates for any big job, itemized into parts and labor hours, so you can compare like for like.
- Know your model's weak years. Before buying used, check years to avoid by model.
- Budget for ownership, not just the payment. The true cost calculator and cost to own by model include maintenance.
- Know when to stop. If a repair costs more than the car is worth, compare its used value with its scrap value before you pay.
Methodology and what this page doesn't cover
Spending comes from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Surveys, series CXUCAREPAIRLB0101M (all consumer units) and its income, age and region cuts, 2016–2025. A consumer unit is roughly a household. The figures are averages over all units, including those without a vehicle.
Prices come from the CPI-U, U.S. city average, not seasonally adjusted: maintenance and repair (CUUR0000SETD) and its components, with parts and equipment (CUUR0000SETC), tires (CUUR0000SETC01) and all items (CUUR0000SA0) for comparison. Monthly changes use September of each year; the annual table uses BLS annual averages.
Not included: prices for individual repairs (brakes, alternator, transmission and so on). No government source publishes national averages per job, and we don't publish numbers we can't source. Shop rates and parts vary widely by region and vehicle, so a written estimate is the only reliable price.
All figures were pulled from the public BLS API on 2026-11-07. Data are as published by BLS and may be revised.
Frequently asked questions
How much does the average car repair cost?
No government source publishes an average price per repair job. The closest official figure is household spending: U.S. households spent an average of $1,241 on vehicle maintenance and repairs in 2025, and $984 in 2024 (BLS Consumer Expenditure Surveys). That average includes households with several vehicles and households with none. For a specific job, get two or three written estimates.
How much should I budget for car repairs per year?
The middle fifth of households by income spent $1,118 on vehicle maintenance and repairs in 2025, and the average across all households was $1,241. Your own number depends on how many vehicles you have, how old they are and whether they're under warranty. Repair prices rose 5.8% in the year to September 2026, so last year's budget is probably low.
Why are car repairs so expensive now?
Prices for the labor and service side have risen fastest. The CPI for motor vehicle repair is up 84% since September 2016, while motor vehicle parts and equipment rose 33% and overall inflation 40%. BLS doesn't publish the causes, but the gap shows the shop bill outpacing the parts.
Are car repair prices still going up?
Yes. The CPI for motor vehicle maintenance and repair was +5.8% year over year in September 2026, faster than overall inflation (+3.7%). Every year from 2016 through 2025, its annual average rose.
When is a car not worth repairing?
When the repair estimate is more than the car would be worth after the fix, or close to it. Compare the estimate with the car’s used value and with its scrap value; if the repair costs more than the difference, selling it as-is is usually the better deal.
Sources
- BLS CE series CXUCAREPAIRLB0101M, vehicle maintenance and repairs, all consumer units
- BLS, Consumer Expenditures in 2025 (news release USDL-26-1619, Oct 29, 2026)
- BLS notice: 2025 annual CE data release (Oct 29, 2026)
- BLS Consumer Expenditure Surveys
- BLS CPI series CUUR0000SETD, motor vehicle maintenance and repair
- BLS CPI series CUUR0000SETD03, motor vehicle repair
- BLS Consumer Price Index
Accessed November 2026.