Toronto, Ontario — The cost of vehicle maintenance and repair has increased by an average of 28 percent over the past three years due to rising vehicle technification, says a new article from The Wall Street Journal.
The article specifically notes that among parts costs, “another culprit is the cost and labour required for all the sensors and computers packed into newer vehicles.”
Notably, the article highlights Scott Benavidez of Mr. B’s Paint and Body Shop in Albuquerque, New Mexico, who told The Wall Street Journal that “I say, ‘It’s going to be $1,200’ and I sit down to write the estimate and it comes out to $2,800.”
The article continues that in the second quarter of 2024, the average repair cost for an insurance claim was $4,721, about $800 more than three years earlier.
And, while a decade ago, a typical car had around 10 to 30 onboard computer modules, many now have more than 75.
“In 2024, some 26 percent of repairs associated with insurance claims have included recalibrating sensors, up from five percent in 2020,” said the article.
“Consider the side-view mirror,” Joe Marconi, a former mechanic and shop owner in Patterson, New York, told the news source. “Replacing a busted one on a car from 2014 might cost about $200 to $400, including one hour of labour. The same mirror on a 2024 car could have a camera and sensors for lane-change assistance, plus a heating element to keep them warm. The cost of repairs and replacements might be $1,200 to $1,500, with an additional hour of labour.”
Collision Repair magazine also reached out to members of the industry to discuss the rising cost of repairs. Here, Robbie Shreenan, owner and operator of Topcoat Automotive Collision repair in Halifax, Nova Scotia noted that every year requires “a more diverse variety of tools and equipment.”
“Scan tools, welders, rivet guns—every year, we need to add more and more to our toolbox,” Shreenan concluded.
To see the full Wall Street article, click here. For more information, click here.
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