The cost of maintaining your car’s health held steady last year.
According to the 2015 CarMD Vehicle Health Index, which analyzed over 98,000 repairs, the average repair costs saw virtually no change in 2014, up only 0.6 percent. The report found that average labor costs went up 2.7 percent, but that increase was offset by a 2.8-percent decrease in part costs. In addition, the more expensive repairs for hybrids are dropping with the electrified vehicles accounting for only one of the top 10 most expensive repairs in 2014, as opposed to three the previous year.
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Repair costs rose the previous two years with the 2013 Vehicle Health Index seeing average labor costs up 17 percent and parts costs up six percent compared to 2012. The 2014 Vehicle Health Index saw even more increases in 2013 when car repair costs were up 6.7 percent to an average of $392.49. As for last year, the average labor repair cost came in at $161.61 while average parts cost rang up to $228.77 making the total average repair cost $390.38. The highest the study has found was in 2006 when the total average repair cost was $422.36.
The study also found that the average repair cost differed by region, with the West Coast averaging $423.38 while the Midwest was cheapest at $375.41. Those living in the South paid an average of $400.88 while those in the Northeast saw an average bill of $418.55.
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