According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for motor vehicle insurance are 1,809.71% higher in 2026 versus 1973 (a $9,048.55 difference in value).
Between 1973 and 2026, Car insurance experienced an average inflation rate of 5.72% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, car insurance costing $500 in the year 1973 would cost $9,548.55 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.87% during this same period, inflation for car insurance was higher.
In the year 1973: Pricing changed by -1.75%, which is significantly below the average yearly change for car insurance during the 1973-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1973 (6.18%), inflation for car insurance was much lower.
Car insurance prices are down 5.0% over the past year, but your own inflation rate depends on everything you buy. The personal inflation calculator works it out from your budget.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Car insurance, over time, for $500 beginning in 1973. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1973 | $500.00 | -1.75% |
| 1974 | $500.27 | 0.05% |
| 1975 | $528.31 | 5.60% |
| 1976 | $680.68 | 28.84% |
| 1977 | $762.52 | 12.02% |
| 1978 | $784.82 | 2.92% |
| 1979 | $828.14 | 5.52% |
| 1980 | $895.96 | 8.19% |
| 1981 | $938.38 | 4.73% |
| 1982 | $998.73 | 6.43% |
| 1983 | $1,096.21 | 9.76% |
| 1984 | $1,181.78 | 7.81% |
| 1985 | $1,302.11 | 10.18% |
| 1986 | $1,475.06 | 13.28% |
| 1987 | $1,597.31 | 8.29% |
| 1988 | $1,710.45 | 7.08% |
| 1989 | $1,819.22 | 6.36% |
| 1990 | $1,942.84 | 6.79% |
| 1991 | $2,091.94 | 7.67% |
| 1992 | $2,244.40 | 7.29% |
| 1993 | $2,366.83 | 5.45% |
| 1994 | $2,455.58 | 3.75% |
| 1995 | $2,559.17 | 4.22% |
| 1996 | $2,663.57 | 4.08% |
| 1997 | $2,748.23 | 3.18% |
| 1998 | $2,777.54 | 1.07% |
| 1999 | $2,772.62 | -0.18% |
| 2000 | $2,804.21 | 1.14% |
| 2001 | $2,928.91 | 4.45% |
| 2002 | $3,184.96 | 8.74% |
| 2003 | $3,434.64 | 7.84% |
| 2004 | $3,530.22 | 2.78% |
| 2005 | $3,602.95 | 2.06% |
| 2006 | $3,623.98 | 0.58% |
| 2007 | $3,638.92 | 0.41% |
| 2008 | $3,730.41 | 2.51% |
| 2009 | $3,899.48 | 4.53% |
| 2010 | $4,098.08 | 5.09% |
| 2011 | $4,245.27 | 3.59% |
| 2012 | $4,396.24 | 3.56% |
| 2013 | $4,581.10 | 4.20% |
| 2014 | $4,775.74 | 4.25% |
| 2015 | $5,031.25 | 5.35% |
| 2016 | $5,342.97 | 6.20% |
| 2017 | $5,755.45 | 7.72% |
| 2018 | $6,181.94 | 7.41% |
| 2019 | $6,237.38 | 0.90% |
| 2020 | $5,949.02 | -4.62% |
| 2021 | $6,174.91 | 3.80% |
| 2022 | $6,661.28 | 7.88% |
| 2023 | $7,820.90 | 17.41% |
| 2024 | $9,209.15 | 17.75% |
| 2025 | $9,750.10 | 5.87% |
| 2026 | $9,548.55 | -2.07%* |
* Not final. See inflation summary for latest details.
** Extended periods of 0% inflation usually indicate incomplete underlying data. This can manifest as a sharp increase in inflation later on.
Raw Consumer Price Index data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for Motor vehicle insurance:
| Year | 1947 | 1948 | 1949 | 1950 | 1951 | 1952 | 1953 | 1954 | 1955 | 1956 | 1957 | 1958 | 1959 | 1960 | 1961 | 1962 | 1963 | 1964 | 1965 | 1966 | 1967 | 1968 | 1969 | 1970 | 1971 | 1972 | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
| CPI | 11.710 | 13.592 | 15.717 | 14.883 | 14.942 | 17.800 | 20.517 | 20.383 | 19.625 | 19.017 | 20.408 | 23.342 | 24.892 | 25.683 | 25.933 | 25.800 | 26.067 | 26.958 | 29.258 | 32.158 | 33.108 | 33.842 | 36.950 | 42.017 | 46.775 | 46.592 | 45.775 | 45.800 | 48.367 | 62.317 | 69.808 | 71.850 | 75.817 | 82.025 | 85.908 | 91.433 | 100.358 | 108.192 | 119.208 | 135.042 | 146.233 | 156.592 | 166.550 | 177.867 | 191.517 | 205.475 | 216.683 | 224.808 | 234.292 | 243.850 | 251.600 | 254.283 | 253.833 | 256.725 | 268.142 | 291.583 | 314.442 | 323.192 | 329.850 | 331.775 | 333.143 | 341.519 | 356.998 | 375.180 | 388.655 | 402.476 | 419.400 | 437.219 | 460.611 | 489.149 | 526.911 | 565.957 | 571.032 | 544.633 | 565.313 | 609.840 | 716.004 | 843.098 | 892.622 | 874.170 |