According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for motor vehicle maintenance and repair are 930.45% higher in 2026 versus 1973 (a $4,652.24 difference in value).
Between 1973 and 2026:Car maintenance experienced an average inflation rate of 4.50% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, car maintenance costing $500 in the year 1973 would cost $5,152.24 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.82% during this same period, inflation for car maintenance was higher.
In the year 1973: Pricing changed by 5.28%, which is above the average yearly change for car maintenance during the 1973-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1973 (6.18%), inflation for car maintenance was lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Car maintenance, 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 | 5.28% |
| 1974 | $551.20 | 10.24% |
| 1975 | $620.81 | 12.63% |
| 1976 | $666.70 | 7.39% |
| 1977 | $716.26 | 7.43% |
| 1978 | $775.36 | 8.25% |
| 1979 | $852.97 | 10.01% |
| 1980 | $943.50 | 10.61% |
| 1981 | $1,032.30 | 9.41% |
| 1982 | $1,110.30 | 7.56% |
| 1983 | $1,160.05 | 4.48% |
| 1984 | $1,200.35 | 3.47% |
| 1985 | $1,235.44 | 2.92% |
| 1986 | $1,276.61 | 3.33% |
| 1987 | $1,327.81 | 4.01% |
| 1988 | $1,384.98 | 4.31% |
| 1989 | $1,444.76 | 4.32% |
| 1990 | $1,505.30 | 4.19% |
| 1991 | $1,573.27 | 4.52% |
| 1992 | $1,634.40 | 3.89% |
| 1993 | $1,687.43 | 3.24% |
| 1994 | $1,737.27 | 2.95% |
| 1995 | $1,781.91 | 2.57% |
| 1996 | $1,832.24 | 2.82% |
| 1997 | $1,882.76 | 2.76% |
| 1998 | $1,932.90 | 2.66% |
| 1999 | $1,988.33 | 2.87% |
| 2000 | $2,051.48 | 3.18% |
| 2001 | $2,123.22 | 3.50% |
| 2002 | $2,200.73 | 3.65% |
| 2003 | $2,262.92 | 2.83% |
| 2004 | $2,315.75 | 2.33% |
| 2005 | $2,393.95 | 3.38% |
| 2006 | $2,494.70 | 4.21% |
| 2007 | $2,579.59 | 3.40% |
| 2008 | $2,705.66 | 4.89% |
| 2009 | $2,815.31 | 4.05% |
| 2010 | $2,868.73 | 1.90% |
| 2011 | $2,928.26 | 2.08% |
| 2012 | $2,980.13 | 1.77% |
| 2013 | $3,027.09 | 1.58% |
| 2014 | $3,077.81 | 1.68% |
| 2015 | $3,132.08 | 1.76% |
| 2016 | $3,185.71 | 1.71% |
| 2017 | $3,249.05 | 1.99% |
| 2018 | $3,313.05 | 1.97% |
| 2019 | $3,424.60 | 3.37% |
| 2020 | $3,540.19 | 3.38% |
| 2021 | $3,678.50 | 3.91% |
| 2022 | $3,981.55 | 8.24% |
| 2023 | $4,440.75 | 11.53% |
| 2024 | $4,712.01 | 6.11% |
| 2025 | $4,994.79 | 6.00% |
| 2026 | $5,152.24 | 3.15%* |
* 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 maintenance and repair:
| 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 | 17.140 | 18.017 | 18.550 | 18.850 | 20.283 | 20.825 | 21.858 | 22.683 | 23.192 | 24.083 | 24.975 | 25.433 | 25.908 | 26.417 | 27.117 | 27.400 | 27.792 | 28.167 | 28.558 | 29.183 | 30.392 | 32.025 | 34.100 | 36.633 | 39.258 | 41.050 | 43.217 | 47.642 | 53.658 | 57.625 | 61.908 | 67.017 | 73.725 | 81.550 | 89.225 | 95.967 | 100.267 | 103.750 | 106.783 | 110.342 | 114.767 | 119.708 | 124.875 | 130.108 | 135.983 | 141.267 | 145.850 | 150.158 | 154.017 | 158.367 | 162.733 | 167.067 | 171.858 | 177.317 | 183.517 | 190.217 | 195.592 | 200.158 | 206.917 | 215.625 | 222.963 | 233.859 | 243.337 | 247.954 | 253.099 | 257.582 | 261.641 | 266.025 | 270.716 | 275.351 | 280.827 | 286.358 | 296.000 | 305.990 | 317.945 | 344.139 | 383.829 | 407.275 | 431.716 | 445.325 |