Car repair costs rose 5 percent in one month and 15 percent year-over-year according to Consumer Price Index data reported by Empower, driven by 25 percent import duties on after-market parts, technician labor shortages, and the rising complexity of ADAS-equipped vehicles. Repair costs have increased approximately 33 percent since 2021, with EV and hybrid repairs running 20 to 30 percent higher due to specialized tooling and certification requirements.
Operator takeaway
Rising repair costs mean longer storage times as owners delay picking up damaged vehicles — if your yard charges daily storage, the revenue looks good until the lien sale reveals the car is worth less than the bill.