The price of automotive repair has drastically outpaced inflation, as shared recently by Jalopnik.

The data comes from a report by the St. Louis Federal Reserve, which showed that the cost of maintaining a vehicle has increased 60% since January 2019. In comparison, inflation rose by 32% during the same period.

Vehicles becoming more technologically complex is a major reason for rising costs, with shops now needing specialized computers to diagnose an increasing number of issues. Shops often have separate computers to handle American, European, and Asian vehicles, or even a specific brand.

Even jobs like windshield replacements are impacted, as it’s now more than just glass: with sensors and cameras controlling functions like automatic wipers and high beams, a repair will include recalibrating those components as well.

In addition to this additional equipment, the computers typically require subscription plans that keep them up to date and functional. This creates even more of a cost burden for shops—one that sits at the heart of the Right to Repair movement. With tariffs on parts now impacting shops as well, repair businesses are struggling to maintain the same prices.