High-Tech Vehicles Drive Up Auto Repair Costs for Shops and Consumers

Ralph Czeisler, an auto mechanic in Brooklyn, New York, and owner of Emil’s All-Tire in the Gravesend neighborhood, said rapid technological change forces him to spend more time and money even for basic repairs. “Every year, I update all my computers,” Czeisler said. “I have multiple computers for domestic, Asian, European cars, and it’s very costly. Every year they make changes, and it costs more money and more money. And it’s getting very challenging.”

Greg Brannon, director of automotive engineering at AAA, told CNBC that many mechanics across the United States face the same problems. Repairs of these vehicles are now so sophisticated that they almost always require a laptop, sometimes one dedicated to a specific brand, he said. Shops also need subscriptions to software and data services, which can be purchased for periods ranging from a few hours to a year. Those recurring costs are difficult for smaller shops to absorb. “It has become increasingly financially difficult for independent shops to be able to service all makes and models,” Brannon said.

Czeisler said he passes at least some of these costs on to consumers. “The consumer is getting the shaft at the end of the day because they’re getting offset by the monetary cost as well,” he said.

Repair costs rose about 60% from January 2019 to August 2026, according to the St. Louis Federal Reserve. That is almost twice the 32% increase in overall inflation over the same period. The data does not indicate exactly why prices are rising, but research suggests technological progress is driving up costs in at least some cases.

A 2023 AAA study found that calibrating advanced driver-assistance systems, or ADAS, can raise the cost of a collision repair by 37.6%. Replacing a cracked windshield, for example, used to mean ordering a new windshield and installing it. Now the camera behind the windshield needs to be calibrated, said Ariella Czeisler, Ralph’s daughter, who also works in the shop. The camera is one of at least a few on a vehicle, depending on the model, and such cameras and sensors usually support ADAS and active safety features that automakers have been adding.

A single calibration machine costs about $28,000, according to an invoice the shop provided to CNBC. The necessary computer that comes with it is another $12,000. A total array can cost up to $90,000. Target boards mounted to the machine are designed to calibrate specific cameras, and each board can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars for more premium brands, Ariella Czeisler said. “God forbid we don’t calibrate the windshield and that camera is malfunctioning,” she said. “The car can brake unexpectedly and cause an incident from the rear. We don’t want to be liable for that.”

As vehicles and other devices have become more technologically sophisticated, a “right to repair” movement has gained force. Broadly, the idea is that consumers and small shops should have access to the tools, parts and information needed to repair their own electronic devices, farm equipment and cars, among other things. Lawmakers at the state and federal levels have proposed legislation meant to support these goals, with varying degrees of success. Since 2014, trade groups representing both automakers and auto mechanics have made agreements meant to ensure that repair shops have access to the same data, parts and tools as bigger dealerships.

AAA’s Brannon said the information is generally available to repair shops, both dealer and independent, that need it to repair vehicles, though there can be exceptions. There is a task force to which shops can report problems or concerns to automakers. Brannon said the vast majority of claims revolve around costs and complexity around accessing data. Czeisler said his main problem is usually the cost and hassle of accessing information or upgrading computers to keep them current.

Some repairs that are becoming more expensive are virtually as old as fuel-burning vehicles themselves. During an oil change, Czeisler said he had to use a computer just to reset the oil change indicator light. On an oil change for a luxury vehicle that would normally cost $400, the cost of accessing the software is another $75. “You can’t just go and reset it,” he said. “You have to pay for information to download to your computer, to upload to the customer’s computer to reset the light. Otherwise it’s never going to reset and that costs more money. And the result? I pay more money. The consumer pays more money. It’s not fair.”