KAUKAUNA, Wis. — For many people, going to the auto repair shop lately is like going to the dentist — very painful. The cost to repair a car is surging, with no signs of slowing down.

What You Need To Know

  • Ongoing supply-chain issues plague repair shops

  • About 73,300 openings for automotive service technicians and mechanics are projected each year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

  • Consumers now spend an average of $548.32 fixing their cars

Ruffing Automotive has been around for 27 years. Owner and mechanic Jeff Ruffing said during that time, he’s seen repair prices go up.

When Ruffing is checking under your car’s hood, there may be a higher cost. Repairs costs have risen 20% in the last year, according to the July 2023 Consumer Price Index.

“We’ve been talking since the 70s about how auto repair was going to go up a great deal,” Ruffing said.

Ruffing said there are two reasons you’re paying more. Parts cost more because of ongoing supply chain issues and he’s paying mechanics 20% more.

“When shops are short of technicians, the way that you try to get more technicians to take care of the demand is to increase what you pay them,” Ruffing said.

Ruffing’s also noticed more of his customers are needing credit to pay their repair bills.

“It used to be something that a small percentage of people took advantage of. But there’s more people taking advantage of now. They’re just moving the pieces around in their finances to make everything work,” Ruffing said.

Customer Phil Roberts has experienced the high prices firsthand.

“Costs are going up quite a bit, just like everything else,” Roberts said.

As Roberts waited for his 2010 Chevy Tahoe, he remembers the sticker shock of his previous repair bill.

“It was probably around, well, I think it was around $800 bucks,” Roberts said.

Roberts said the cost of routine maintenance is exhausting.

“Routine oil changes seem to cost like one and a half times what they used to,” he said.

But an oil change may be one of the wisest investments in your vehicle. Ruffing said that’s because routine maintenance will help keep repair costs down.

“We do see a lot of times where somebody ignores the squeak or ignores the noise, hoping that it’s going to go away. And it becomes a much more expensive repair item than it would have been had we gotten it in earlier in the failure process,” Ruffing said.

Auto experts expect improvements to the part shortages problem to happen sooner than solutions to the labor shortage, meaning it may be a long road ahead for car repair costs.

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