Just like
fuel
and insurance
prices vary from state to state
, car maintenance is more expensive in some parts of the US than others. Where you live is one of the biggest determinants of how much you’ll pay to repair and maintain your vehicle.California
and New Jersey
are among the most expensive states for vehicle repairs, while drivers in Vermont
and Ohio
can expect lower costs to maintain their cars. What affects the cost of car maintenance in each state?
Why do drivers in some states pay more for maintenance? The availability of services, along with varying labor and parts costs, contribute to the differences in repair costs across the country.
Labor
Labor is one of the biggest factors that influences how much you’ll pay at the shop to get your vehicle serviced. Labor costs vary between different shops, but they’re also determined by market averages across each state and by the labor laws in your area.
According to
U.S. News
, mechanics in the District of Columbia
and California
are paid better than in any other state with average annual salaries between $64,000 and $54,000. In Mississippi
, on the other hand, ZipRecruiter
estimates that mechanics earn an average hourly wage of just $15.42, working out to an annual salary of just above $32,000. Parts
It’s not just sales tax that influences the average cost of repair parts in different states: it also depends on the most common services in each state. For instance, the average cost to repair an O2 sensor is between $155 and $500, whereas the cost to replace spark plugs rarely goes above $250 and can be as low as $66.
If drivers in
Wyoming
replace their O2 sensors more than any other part, the cost of parts will outweigh the cost of parts in a state where spark plug replacement is the most common vehicle service. Availability of services
Pennsylvania
has a greater number of auto repair shops than New York
—over 300 more! However, New York’s population is bigger than Pennsylvania’s by close to 7 million. Pennsylvania’s number of mechanics per capita makes it easier to get a maintenance appointment in the Keystone State. Competition for mechanics’ services can drive up repair prices, including the cost of labor. The more drivers in your city, the higher your maintenance costs may be.
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Popular makes influence maintenance costs
Your state’s most popular vehicle make is another factor that affects the average cost of maintenance.
On the East and West Coasts, for instance, vehicles from Asian manufacturers are most popular. Drivers in L.A. and Miami opt for the
Toyota Corolla
and the Honda CR-V
over American or European models. Although the maintenance costs for these vehicles tend to be lower than for European makes, they’re a little pricier to maintain than the average American-made vehicle. In the Midwest and South, on the other hand, American makes are the most popular. From the
Silverado
to the F150
, homegrown makes like Chevrolet
, Ford
, and Dodge
outnumber other cars on the vast highways of Middle America. With some of the lowest annual maintenance costs of any cars, these popular brands make car maintenance more affordable, on average, in many Southern and Midwestern states. No matter where you drive, you can find savings on car insurance using the
Jerry
app. The #1 rated insurance app searches for customized quotes from 50+ top providers across the nation to find the best rate for you, your budget, and your area. Still have some questions?
Let Jerry help you find the answers
By R.E. Fulton
Licensed Insurance Agent —Senior Content Writer
Reviewed by Melanie Reiff, Expert Insurance Writer and Editor.
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