Here’s why car repair costs have increased by nearly 20% in the past year.

Car repair costs are up almost 20% in the past year, according to the consumer price index — more than six times the national inflation rate and among the largest annual price increases of any household good or service.

So, what’s driving up prices?

It’s a combination of factors, experts said. Some emerged in the pandemic era while others are longer-term trends in the auto market, they said. Here’s a look at six reasons why you’re paying more for car repairs.

Common car repairs can run consumers $500 to $600 a visit and sometimes “much higher,” according to AAA.

More advanced — and more expensive — technology in vehicles is a big reason for higher repair costs, said Robert Sinclair, Jr., a spokesman for AAA Northeast.

Take advanced driver-assistance systems, for example. Such technologies — like auto emergency braking, lane keeping assist or cross-traffic alert systems — have “proliferated” and are available in just about any vehicle, Sinclair said.

Electronic sensors to facilitate these technologies are found in bumpers, fenders and grilles, which are commonly damaged in wrecks, he said.

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Put another way, cars today are like computers that run on gasoline or electricity, said Skyler Chadwick, director of product consulting at Cox Automotive.

Not only are there higher costs associated with fixing broken technology, but the tech also requires more precision and time for auto body work. For example, the thickness of paint on a car bumper must be “just right” so the sensors work properly, Sinclair said.

Consider this: One repair shop proprietor told Sinclair that striking a deer with a vehicle can lead to roughly $1,500 to $2,000 more in repairs today than it did 15 years ago due to these technologies.

It’s not just technology, though: Many car parts have become pricier in the pandemic era due to supply-chain issues, Sinclair said. Those supply-chain issues create shortages of certain components (like microchips), making it tougher and pricier to replace parts during a repair.

Major long-term shifts in the auto industry — toward more automation and electric vehicles — also require more chips and put “further strain on an already stretched industry,” according to J.P. Morgan.

The average age of passenger cars and trucks in operation increased to 12.2 years in 2022, up from about 10.5 years in 2010, according to S&P Global Mobility.

Pandemic-era shortages for auto parts put upward pressure on average vehicle age. Shortages translated to a lower inventory of new and used cars, and consumers held onto their current cars for a longer time, wrote S&P Global Mobility analysts.

Higher interest rates starting in early 2022 also meant it was more expensive to buy a car, Chadwick said.

There were 6.1 million crashes reported to the police in 2021, up from about 5.3 million in 2020, according to data compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Fatalities have also increased: There were almost 43,000 deaths from motor-vehicle accidents in 2021, according to the NHTSA — the highest tally since 2005 and a 10.5% jump from 2020, the largest annual percentage increase on record. The number of auto deaths in 2022 was similar (though slightly less) at 42,795.

More auto wrecks mean greater demand for mechanics, serving to raise prices for car repairs, Sinclair said.

Meanwhile, there’s been a dearth of available mechanics to meet that greater demand, translating to higher labor costs, auto experts said.

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