According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for motor vehicle maintenance and servicing are 438.71% higher in 2026 versus 1978 (a $2,193.56 difference in value).
Between 1978 and 2026:Car servicing experienced an average inflation rate of 3.57% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, car servicing costing $500 in the year 1978 would cost $2,693.56 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.40% during this same period, inflation for car servicing was higher.
In the year 1978: Pricing changed by 4.60%, which is above the average yearly change for car servicing during the 1978-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1978 (7.63%), inflation for car servicing was much lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Car servicing, 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 | 4.60% |
| 1979 | $550.02 | 10.00% |
| 1980 | $605.40 | 10.07% |
| 1981 | $656.44 | 8.43% |
| 1982 | $700.92 | 6.77% |
| 1983 | $726.53 | 3.65% |
| 1984 | $741.95 | 2.12% |
| 1985 | $757.62 | 2.11% |
| 1986 | $779.32 | 2.86% |
| 1987 | $815.72 | 4.67% |
| 1988 | $851.63 | 4.40% |
| 1989 | $877.85 | 3.08% |
| 1990 | $904.42 | 3.03% |
| 1991 | $946.00 | 4.60% |
| 1992 | $981.20 | 3.72% |
| 1993 | $1,001.75 | 2.09% |
| 1994 | $1,015.01 | 1.32% |
| 1995 | $1,035.98 | 2.07% |
| 1996 | $1,060.56 | 2.37% |
| 1997 | $1,081.72 | 1.99% |
| 1998 | $1,119.74 | 3.52% |
| 1999 | $1,148.19 | 2.54% |
| 2000 | $1,176.39 | 2.46% |
| 2001 | $1,220.62 | 3.76% |
| 2002 | $1,265.46 | 3.67% |
| 2003 | $1,298.24 | 2.59% |
| 2004 | $1,321.56 | 1.80% |
| 2005 | $1,368.33 | 3.54% |
| 2006 | $1,414.91 | 3.40% |
| 2007 | $1,461.80 | 3.31% |
| 2008 | $1,540.75 | 5.40% |
| 2009 | $1,607.75 | 4.35% |
| 2010 | $1,628.66 | 1.30% |
| 2011 | $1,650.92 | 1.37% |
| 2012 | $1,686.90 | 2.18% |
| 2013 | $1,713.31 | 1.57% |
| 2014 | $1,738.02 | 1.44% |
| 2015 | $1,759.70 | 1.25% |
| 2016 | $1,783.75 | 1.37% |
| 2017 | $1,822.41 | 2.17% |
| 2018 | $1,868.76 | 2.54% |
| 2019 | $1,946.66 | 4.17% |
| 2020 | $2,004.31 | 2.96% |
| 2021 | $2,076.92 | 3.62% |
| 2022 | $2,215.51 | 6.67% |
| 2023 | $2,397.30 | 8.21% |
| 2024 | $2,530.98 | 5.58% |
| 2025 | $2,631.43 | 3.97% |
| 2026 | $2,693.56 | 2.36%* |
* 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 servicing:
| Year | 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 | 66.100 | 69.142 | 76.058 | 83.717 | 90.775 | 96.925 | 100.467 | 102.600 | 104.767 | 107.767 | 112.800 | 117.767 | 121.392 | 125.067 | 130.817 | 135.683 | 138.525 | 140.358 | 143.258 | 146.658 | 149.583 | 154.842 | 158.775 | 162.675 | 168.792 | 174.992 | 179.525 | 182.750 | 189.217 | 195.658 | 202.143 | 213.060 | 222.326 | 225.217 | 228.295 | 233.271 | 236.922 | 240.340 | 243.337 | 246.663 | 252.009 | 258.418 | 269.190 | 277.163 | 287.204 | 306.368 | 331.507 | 349.992 | 363.883 | 372.475 |