According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for motor vehicle insurance are 1,066.75% higher in 2024 versus 1978 (a $5,333.73 difference in value).
Between 1978 and 2024: Car insurance experienced an average inflation rate of 5.49% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, car insurance costing $500 in the year 1978 would cost $5,833.73 in 2024 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.47% during this same period, inflation for car insurance was higher.
In the year 1978: Pricing changed by 2.92%, which is below the average yearly change for car insurance during the 1978-2024 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1978 (7.63%), inflation for car insurance was much lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Car insurance, over time, for $500 beginning in 1978. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1978 | $500.00 | 2.92% |
| 1979 | $527.62 | 5.52% |
| 1980 | $570.82 | 8.19% |
| 1981 | $597.86 | 4.74% |
| 1982 | $636.30 | 6.43% |
| 1983 | $698.45 | 9.77% |
| 1984 | $752.94 | 7.80% |
| 1985 | $829.60 | 10.18% |
| 1986 | $939.78 | 13.28% |
| 1987 | $1,017.67 | 8.29% |
| 1988 | $1,089.78 | 7.09% |
| 1989 | $1,159.10 | 6.36% |
| 1990 | $1,237.85 | 6.79% |
| 1991 | $1,332.82 | 7.67% |
| 1992 | $1,429.98 | 7.29% |
| 1993 | $1,507.98 | 5.45% |
| 1994 | $1,564.51 | 3.75% |
| 1995 | $1,630.51 | 4.22% |
| 1996 | $1,697.06 | 4.08% |
| 1997 | $1,750.96 | 3.18% |
| 1998 | $1,769.65 | 1.07% |
| 1999 | $1,766.49 | -0.18% |
| 2000 | $1,786.62 | 1.14% |
| 2001 | $1,866.06 | 4.45% |
| 2002 | $2,029.23 | 8.74% |
| 2003 | $2,188.28 | 7.84% |
| 2004 | $2,249.20 | 2.78% |
| 2005 | $2,295.56 | 2.06% |
| 2006 | $2,308.94 | 0.58% |
| 2007 | $2,318.45 | 0.41% |
| 2008 | $2,376.74 | 2.51% |
| 2009 | $2,484.46 | 4.53% |
| 2010 | $2,610.99 | 5.09% |
| 2011 | $2,704.77 | 3.59% |
| 2012 | $2,800.96 | 3.56% |
| 2013 | $2,918.74 | 4.20% |
| 2014 | $3,042.74 | 4.25% |
| 2015 | $3,205.53 | 5.35% |
| 2016 | $3,404.14 | 6.20% |
| 2017 | $3,666.94 | 7.72% |
| 2018 | $3,938.67 | 7.41% |
| 2019 | $3,973.99 | 0.90% |
| 2020 | $3,790.27 | -4.62% |
| 2021 | $3,934.19 | 3.80% |
| 2022 | $4,244.07 | 7.88% |
| 2023 | $4,982.90 | 17.41% |
| 2024 | $5,833.73 | 17.08%* |
* 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 | 1935 | 1936 | 1937 | 1938 | 1939 | 1940 | 1941 | 1942 | 1943 | 1944 | 1945 | 1946 | 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 |
| CPI | 8.900 | 8.900 | 8.900 | 8.900 | 8.900 | 8.800 | 9.000 | 9.900 | 9.000 | 8.700 | 8.700 | 10.400 | 11.733 | 14.160 | 15.740 | 14.620 | 15.340 | 18.340 | 20.540 | 20.340 | 19.440 | 19.000 | 20.780 | 23.700 | 25.160 | 25.740 | 25.940 | 25.700 | 26.220 | 27.667 | 30.400 | 32.360 | 33.220 | 34.000 | 36.946 | 42.015 | 46.777 | 46.592 | 45.777 | 45.800 | 48.369 | 62.315 | 69.808 | 71.846 | 75.815 | 82.023 | 85.908 | 91.431 | 100.362 | 108.192 | 119.208 | 135.038 | 146.231 | 156.592 | 166.554 | 177.869 | 191.515 | 205.477 | 216.685 | 224.808 | 234.292 | 243.854 | 251.600 | 254.285 | 253.831 | 256.723 | 268.138 | 291.585 | 314.438 | 323.192 | 329.854 | 331.777 | 333.143 | 341.519 | 356.997 | 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 | 838.263 |