Sensors and calibrations raise the bill per crash, yet driver-assist tech also prevents many collisions.
November 3, 2026
A fender bender used to mean a new bumper and some paint. On a newer car, however, the same crash can mean replacing radar sensors, recalibrating cameras, and running diagnostic scans.
In 2025, the average repair on a vehicle six years old or newer cost $5,721, about 55% more than the $3,682 average for vehicles seven years or older, according to the 2026 Crash Course report from CCC Intelligent Solutions, which analyzes auto claims data for the insurance and repair industries.
“A lot of modern cars have more safety features such as blind spot warning and sensors that can help prevent crashes. However, they can also increase the cost of repairs and car insurance,” says Luke Oswald, automotive specialist at Wheels Away.
Vehicle age is just one factor insurers consider. Newer cars may have safety features that help prevent crashes, while older vehicles can be more vulnerable to being totaled. Here's what the data shows and how it can inform your car and coverage choices.
CCC's Crash Course report is based on claims data processed through its platform, which is used by insurers and collision repair shops. In 2025, the average total cost of a repair across all vehicles was $4,818, up 1.7% from 2024. That relatively small overall increase masks a much larger difference between newer and older vehicles.
Measure | Vehicles 6 years old or newer | Vehicles 7 years or older | All vehicles |
|---|---|---|---|
Average total cost of repair, 2025 | $5,721 | $3,682 | $4,818 |
Source: CCC Intelligent Solutions, Crash Course 2026.
Repair costs are also being pushed up by rising parts and labor expenses. CCC found that parts prices rose 6.0% in 2025 and labor rates rose 2.9%. In its 2026 mid-year update, CCC reported that the average repair cost reached $4,821 in the first half of 2026, up from $3,331 in 2020, with parts prices up 8% year over year.
Government data also confirms that repair costs continue to rise. The Bureau of Labor Statistics' consumer price index for motor vehicle maintenance and repair rose 5.8% in the 12 months ending in September 2026, faster than overall inflation of 3.7%, according to the BLS.
Most new cars come with advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), such as automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist and blind-spot monitoring. These systems rely on cameras and radar units mounted in places like bumpers, mirrors and windshields, which can be damaged even in relatively minor crashes. After a repair, the sensors often have to be recalibrated so they work correctly. CCC found that 28.3% of repairable estimates included calibrations in 2025, up from 21.8% in 2024. In the first quarter of 2026, nearly 75% of repairable appraisals included a diagnostic scan.
Cars with sensors or cameras in the bumpers, mirrors, or windshields can be extortionate to fix. Replacing a windshield can mean replacing and fixing the cameras as well.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), a nonprofit funded by insurers, notes that crash-avoidance sensors are often blamed for high repair bills, but they're only one of many causes. Its chief insurance operations officer has pointed to other features, such as light bars and turbochargers, that also increase repair costs.
Higher repair costs don't necessarily translate into higher insurance losses. Insurers also consider how frequently claims occur. The IIHS's Highway Loss Data Institute compared otherwise identical 2017 to 2022 model-year vehicles with and without a bundle of driver-assistance features. According to IIHS, the equipped vehicles had:
About 10% higher collision claim severity (the average cost per claim)
About 10% fewer collision claims
Almost 40% fewer property damage liability claims, which pay for damage you cause to other people's property
Put together, overall collision losses were about 5% lower for the equipped vehicles. In other words, these vehicles had fewer claims overall, even though the claims that did occur tended to cost more to resolve.
That's why repair costs are only one factor in determining your premium. Two cars with similar repair costs can be priced very differently based on how often each model is involved in claims.
While newer cars can be expensive to repair, older cars face a different challenge: their lower market values make them more vulnerable to being totaled. An insurer usually declares a car a total loss when repairs would cost more than a set share of its value, so a repair bill that's routine on a newer car can total an older one.
CCC's data shows this shift. The share of claims declared total losses reached a record 23.1% in 2025 and 23.5% in the first half of 2026. Vehicles seven years or older made up 74.3% of total loss valuations in the first half of 2026. The share of driveable vehicles declared total losses rose to 11.2%, up from 10.3% a year earlier and 6.3% in 2022.
For drivers, a total loss means the insurer pays the car's actual cash value, minus your deductible, rather than fixing it. If you depend on an older vehicle and would struggle to replace it, this is another factor to weigh when choosing your coverage.
The cost of repairing your car is one factor insurers consider when setting premiums. Collision and comprehensive coverage are the two parts of your policy that pay to fix your own car.
According to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, the organization of state insurance regulators, the national average collision premium rose 11.4% in 2024, to $516.39, and the average comprehensive premium rose 18.7%, to $283.15, based on its 2024 Auto Insurance Database Average Premium Supplement.
More recently, car insurance prices have started to ease. The BLS index for motor vehicle insurance was 5% lower in September 2026 than a year earlier, even as repair prices kept rising. This difference highlights why repair costs and insurance premiums don't always move in the same direction. Insurers set rates based on expected claim costs over time, so repair costs are one pressure among many, along with accident frequency, injury claims, weather and competition.
Rising repair costs and higher deductibles are changing how drivers use their insurance. In the first half of 2026, self-pay repairs made up 26% of repair orders, according to CCC. The average self-pay repair cost $1,941, compared with $4,821 for repairs paid through insurance claims. The share of repairable collision claims with deductibles of $1,000 or more rose to 28.4%, up from 20.3% in 2022.
BestMoney's own research suggests this trend extends to drivers' decisions about filing claims. In our survey of drivers, 60% of drivers who got into an accident said they didn't file a claim. Paying out of pocket for small repairs can protect your rates, but a deductible you can't afford can leave you stuck when a bigger repair comes along.
Premiums can vary widely between models with similar sticker prices.
“EVs, for example, cost less to maintain day to day but accident repairs can be a lot more expensive, meaning auto policies are usually higher,” Oswald explains.
If you're considering an electric vehicle, read our guide to electric car insurance.
Be sure to ask for quotes on the specific makes, models and trims you're considering before you sign.
Our guides to the most expensive cars to insure and safe cars with low insurance rates are a good place to start.
Some models are much more expensive to fix than others. See our list of the most expensive cars to repair and maintain.
“Ask a garage or repair shop ‘can you repair this car, and are the parts easy to get’. Find out whether most popular repairs need specialist equipment or a trip to the dealer,” says Oswald.
The answers to these questions can give you a better idea of what you might pay for coverage.
The IIHS data suggests driver-assistance features can lower overall insurance losses by preventing crashes, even if each repair costs more. A car that avoids a crash saves you a deductible and could help you avoid a potential premium increase.
A higher deductible lowers your premium, but with average insured repairs near $4,800, make sure you could cover it if needed. Our guide on when to adjust your deductible walks through the trade-offs.
New cars lose value quickly, and a total loss pays only the car's actual cash value. If you owe more than the car is worth, gap insurance can cover the difference.
Newer cars often have cameras, radar and other sensors built into parts like bumpers, mirrors and windshields, and these parts may need to be recalibrated after a repair. CCC found that 28.3% of repair estimates included calibrations in 2025. Higher parts prices also add to the cost.
Not always. Newer cars with driver-assistance features tend to cost more per repair, but IIHS data shows they also file fewer claims. Your premium depends on the specific model's claim history, your driving record, where you live and the coverage you choose. Our guide to why car insurance gets more expensive covers the main factors.
Repair costs keep rising while many older cars are worth relatively little. When a repair would cost more than a set share of a car's value, insurers declare it a total loss. CCC found that 23.5% of claims in the first half of 2026 were total losses, and most total loss valuations involved vehicles seven years or older.
Not right now, on average. The BLS index for motor vehicle insurance was 5% lower in September 2026 than a year earlier. Individual premiums can still rise based on your vehicle, claims history and location.
It can make sense if the repair costs little more than your deductible, since filing a claim can lead to a rate increase. Get a repair estimate first, and compare it with your deductible and the potential effect on your premium.
Newer cars cost more to repair, largely because of the sensors and technology that help prevent crashes in the first place. That doesn't automatically mean higher premiums, since those same features reduce how often drivers file claims. Before you buy your next car, get insurance quotes on the specific models you're considering, check repair costs, and pick a deductible you could pay if you needed to.
Anna Baluch is an insurance and finance expert at BestMoney.com. With over a decade of writing experience, she specializes in insurance, banking, mortgages, personal loans, and retirement planning. Her work has been featured in publications like Forbes, Newsweek, Fox Business, Credit Karma, Insurify, and Realtor.com. Anna holds a bachelor’s in marketing from Northwood University and an MBA from Roosevelt University. Her goal is to empower consumers to make smart financial decisions.
