Car maintenance price inflation, 2021→2026

Car Maintenance Inflation Calculator

Prices for Car Maintenance, 2021-2026 ($500)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for motor vehicle maintenance and repair are 40.06% higher in 2026 versus 2021 (a $200.32 difference in value).

Between 2021 and 2026:Car maintenance experienced an average inflation rate of 6.97% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, car maintenance costing $500 in the year 2021 would cost $700.32 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.65% during this same period, inflation for car maintenance was significantly higher.

In the year 2021: Pricing changed by 3.91%, which is significantly below the average yearly change for car maintenance during the 2021-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 2021 (4.70%), inflation for car maintenance was lower.

Price Inflation for Motor vehicle maintenance and repair since 1947

Consumer Price Index, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Years with the largest changes in pricing: 1975 (12.63%), 2023 (11.53%), and 1980 (10.61%).

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Buying power of $500.00 since 2021

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Car maintenance, over time, for $500 beginning in 2021. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

Year	USD Value	Inflation Rate
2021	$500.00	3.91%
2022	$541.19	8.24%
2023	$603.61	11.53%
2024	$640.48	6.11%
2025	$678.92	6.00%
2026	$700.32	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

Adjust car maintenance prices for inflation

Start with the inflation rate formula:

CPI in 2026 / CPI in 2021* 2021 USD value = 2026 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for Motor vehicle maintenance and repair was 317.945 in the year 2021 and 445.325 in 2026:

445.325 / 317.945* $500 = $700.32

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $500 in 2021 has the same "purchasing power" as $700.32 in 2026 (in the CPI category of Motor vehicle maintenance and repair).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics began tracking the Consumer Price Index for Motor vehicle maintenance and repair in 1947. In addition to car maintenance, the index produces monthly data on changes in prices paid by urban consumers for a variety of goods and services.