According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for motor vehicle maintenance and repair are 252.49% higher in 2026 versus 1989 (a $1,262.46 difference in value).
Between 1989 and 2026:Car maintenance experienced an average inflation rate of 3.46% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, car maintenance costing $500 in the year 1989 would cost $1,762.46 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.64% during this same period, inflation for car maintenance was higher.
In the year 1989: Pricing changed by 4.32%, which is above the average yearly change for car maintenance during the 1989-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1989 (4.83%), inflation for car maintenance was lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Car maintenance, over time, for $500 beginning in 1989. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | $500.00 | 4.32% |
| 1990 | $520.95 | 4.19% |
| 1991 | $544.48 | 4.52% |
| 1992 | $565.63 | 3.89% |
| 1993 | $583.98 | 3.24% |
| 1994 | $601.23 | 2.95% |
| 1995 | $616.68 | 2.57% |
| 1996 | $634.10 | 2.82% |
| 1997 | $651.58 | 2.76% |
| 1998 | $668.94 | 2.66% |
| 1999 | $688.12 | 2.87% |
| 2000 | $709.98 | 3.18% |
| 2001 | $734.80 | 3.50% |
| 2002 | $761.63 | 3.65% |
| 2003 | $783.15 | 2.83% |
| 2004 | $801.43 | 2.33% |
| 2005 | $828.50 | 3.38% |
| 2006 | $863.36 | 4.21% |
| 2007 | $892.74 | 3.40% |
| 2008 | $936.37 | 4.89% |
| 2009 | $974.32 | 4.05% |
| 2010 | $992.81 | 1.90% |
| 2011 | $1,013.41 | 2.08% |
| 2012 | $1,031.36 | 1.77% |
| 2013 | $1,047.61 | 1.58% |
| 2014 | $1,065.17 | 1.68% |
| 2015 | $1,083.95 | 1.76% |
| 2016 | $1,102.51 | 1.71% |
| 2017 | $1,124.43 | 1.99% |
| 2018 | $1,146.58 | 1.97% |
| 2019 | $1,185.19 | 3.37% |
| 2020 | $1,225.19 | 3.38% |
| 2021 | $1,273.05 | 3.91% |
| 2022 | $1,377.93 | 8.24% |
| 2023 | $1,536.85 | 11.53% |
| 2024 | $1,630.73 | 6.11% |
| 2025 | $1,731.28 | 6.17% |
| 2026 | $1,762.46 | 1.80%* |
* 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 | 432.386 | 440.175 |