{"id":61829,"date":"2013-06-12T09:02:02","date_gmt":"2013-06-12T13:02:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thedetroitbureau.com\/?p=61829"},"modified":"2013-06-12T09:02:02","modified_gmt":"2013-06-12T13:02:02","slug":"the-most-expensive-and-cheapest-states-to-get-your-car-repaired","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/2013\/06\/the-most-expensive-and-cheapest-states-to-get-your-car-repaired\/","title":{"rendered":"The Most Expensive \u2013 and Cheapest \u2013 States to Get Your Car Repaired"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>
How much does your mechanic charge? It can vary wildly depending upon where you live.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

When that \u201ccheck engine\u201d light come on, there\u2019s a good reason to get worried.\u00a0 Even if it doesn\u2019t leave you stranded in an unfamiliar part of town after dark it\u2019s likely to take a bite out of your savings, especially as recent studies have indicated automotive repair costs rose by about 10% last year.<\/p>\n

That is, of course, an average that varied significantly by region. Indeed, Vermont actually saw repair costs decline last year, according to a new study by automotive service site CarMD, making it America\u2019s \u00a0most affordable place to take your car in.\u00a0 At the other extreme was New Jersey where the typical visit to a service shop cost almost 50% more than in Vermont.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Your Personal Auto News Source!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Traditionally, the West Coast is the place where repairs have been most expensive.\u00a0 But in its latest annual car-repair cost survey, CarMD found only California among the Top Five, the rest of those spots filled by states along the Eastern Seaboard, including not only NJ but North Carolina, Maryland and the District of Columbia.<\/p>\n

Indeed, repairs in the Northeast rose 11.6% in 2012, faster than the rest of the country, according to a study of 161,000 repairs.<\/p>\n

“In 2012, we saw a dramatic shift in the top five most expensive states for average car repairs, as many drivers along the East Coast incurred rising auto-repair costs, while they simultaneously contended with Hurricane Sandy’s aftermath,” CarMD CEO Ieon Chen noted. “Car owners in many states also continued to put off small repairs, contributing to cumulative failures with increased repair costs.”<\/p>\n

Apparently, the \u201csuperstorm\u201d was not only the cause of serious, flood-related damage but led many East Coast motorists to discover other problems that needed repairs.<\/p>\n

While New Jersey was the most expensive place for repairs \u2013 at an average $392.99, including parts and labor, Washington, D.C. saw the biggest overall increase, repair costs jumping 20% compared to 2011<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is partially attributed to the type of repairs being made,\u201d noted CarMD. \u201cTime-consuming repairs that cost over $1,000 accounted for nearly 10% of D.C. repairs in 2012, as compared with 7% in 2011, while quick-fix, gas cap-related problems were down five points.\u201d<\/p>\n

Though repair costs, on the whole, were up last year, there were a few notable exceptions, such as Vermont \u2013 and Wyoming, where they fell, on average, by 17%.<\/p>\n

Anytime you go to the service shop you\u2019ll wind up having to pay for a mechanic\u2019s time, and Colorado topped the list there, with an average $150.75 per visit. Vermont had the lowest labor cost, on average, at $115.90.<\/p>\n

If you needed parts, the survey found that you likely paid a stiff premium in New Jersey, at an average $256.28, compared to Vermont, which had the lowest average, at just $153.82.<\/p>\n

The state-by-state gap was especially apparent when it came to new hybrid vehicle technology.\u00a0 Replacing a battery in Nevada ran an average $4,409.94 last year.\u00a0 Jersey motorists actually caught a break here, however, with the lowest cost to replace a hybrid battery, on average just $2,005.05.<\/p>\n

Incidentally, two of the states with the lowest average repair costs \u2013 Iowa and South Dakota \u2013 were found in the Midwest while two were located in the South or Southeast, Delaware and West Virginia.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
State-by-State Ranking of Average “Check Engine” Light Car Repair Costs \u2013 2012 <\/strong><\/p>\n

(Source: CarMD.com Corp., CarMD\u00ae Vehicle Health Index\u2122)<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Ranking<\/strong><\/td>\nState<\/strong><\/td>\nLabor<\/strong><\/p>\n

Rate<\/td>\n

Parts<\/strong><\/p>\n

Cost<\/td>\n

Average Car Repair Cost<\/strong><\/p>\n

(Parts & Labor)<\/td>\n

<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1<\/td>\nNew Jersey<\/td>\n$136.71<\/td>\n$256.28<\/td>\n$392.99<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2<\/td>\nDistrict of Columbia<\/td>\n$143.65<\/td>\n$247.97<\/td>\n$391.62<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3<\/td>\nCalifornia<\/td>\n$143.24<\/td>\n$247.13<\/td>\n$390.37<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
4<\/td>\nNorth Carolina<\/td>\n$140.59<\/td>\n$249.32<\/td>\n$389.91<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
5<\/td>\nMaryland<\/td>\n$136.99<\/td>\n$250.79<\/td>\n$387.78<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
6<\/td>\nGeorgia<\/td>\n$143.07<\/td>\n$242.22<\/td>\n$385.29<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
7<\/td>\nConnecticut<\/td>\n$134.50<\/td>\n$260.60<\/td>\n$385.10<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
8<\/td>\nColorado<\/td>\n$150.75<\/td>\n$233.97<\/td>\n$384.72<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
9<\/td>\nVirginia<\/td>\n$138.36<\/td>\n$243.82<\/td>\n$382.18<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
10<\/td>\nOregon<\/td>\n$146.72<\/td>\n$233.50<\/td>\n$380.22<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
11<\/td>\nFlorida<\/td>\n$138.80<\/td>\n$238.66<\/td>\n$377.46<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
12<\/td>\nWashington<\/td>\n$141.09<\/td>\n$234.21<\/td>\n$375.30<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
13<\/td>\nRhode Island<\/td>\n$127.58<\/td>\n$243.72<\/td>\n$371.30<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
14<\/td>\nUtah<\/td>\n$149.49<\/td>\n$221.13<\/td>\n$370.62<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
15<\/td>\nHawaii<\/td>\n$139.37<\/td>\n$230.96<\/td>\n$370.33<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
16<\/td>\nSouth Carolina<\/td>\n$142.04<\/td>\n$225.56<\/td>\n$367.60<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
17<\/td>\nKentucky<\/td>\n$138.09<\/td>\n$228.73<\/td>\n$366.82<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
18<\/td>\nNew York<\/td>\n$132.49<\/td>\n$232.04<\/td>\n$364.53<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
19<\/td>\nTexas<\/td>\n$139.64<\/td>\n$224.66<\/td>\n$364.30<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
20<\/td>\nNevada<\/td>\n$139.38<\/td>\n$224.87<\/td>\n$364.25<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
21<\/td>\nPennsylvania<\/td>\n$137.19<\/td>\n$226.41<\/td>\n$363.60<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
22<\/td>\nArizona<\/td>\n$142.26<\/td>\n$219.24<\/td>\n$361.50<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
23<\/td>\nArkansas<\/td>\n$138.91<\/td>\n$222.41<\/td>\n$361.42<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
24<\/td>\nMontana<\/td>\n$144.38<\/td>\n$215.44<\/td>\n$359.82<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
25<\/td>\nMassachusetts<\/td>\n$124.58<\/td>\n$233.79<\/td>\n$358.37<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
26<\/td>\nMississippi<\/td>\n$138.95<\/td>\n$216.74<\/td>\n$355.69<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
27<\/td>\nLouisiana<\/td>\n$140.05<\/td>\n$213.90<\/td>\n$353.95<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
28<\/td>\nTennessee<\/td>\n$139.50<\/td>\n$213.81<\/td>\n$353.31<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
29<\/td>\nMissouri<\/td>\n$142.49<\/td>\n$210.22<\/td>\n$352.71<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
30<\/td>\nKansas<\/td>\n$136.96<\/td>\n$215.36<\/td>\n$352.32<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
31<\/td>\nAlabama<\/td>\n$139.30<\/td>\n$212.72<\/td>\n$352.02<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
32<\/td>\nIdaho<\/td>\n$143.38<\/td>\n$205.38<\/td>\n$348.76<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
33<\/td>\nNebraska<\/td>\n$137.64<\/td>\n$208.93<\/td>\n$346.57<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
34<\/td>\nMinnesota<\/td>\n$138.45<\/td>\n$207.85<\/td>\n$346.30<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
35<\/td>\nNew Mexico<\/td>\n$145.04<\/td>\n$199.71<\/td>\n$344.75<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
36<\/td>\nNorth Dakota<\/td>\n$139.62<\/td>\n$204.50<\/td>\n$344.12<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
37<\/td>\nIllinois<\/td>\n$132.39<\/td>\n$210.73<\/td>\n$343.12<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
38<\/td>\nAlaska<\/td>\n$142.41<\/td>\n$198.11<\/td>\n$340.52<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
39<\/td>\nOklahoma<\/td>\n$137.36<\/td>\n$200.52<\/td>\n$337.88<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
40<\/td>\nIndiana<\/td>\n$134.10<\/td>\n$195.21<\/td>\n$329.31<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
41<\/td>\nWisconsin<\/td>\n$134.81<\/td>\n$193.93<\/td>\n$328.74<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
42<\/td>\nOhio<\/td>\n$128.18<\/td>\n$200.00<\/td>\n$328.18<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
43<\/td>\nMaine<\/td>\n$133.28<\/td>\n$194.80<\/td>\n$328.08<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
44<\/td>\nNew Hampshire<\/td>\n$121.88<\/td>\n$206.12<\/td>\n$328.00<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
45<\/td>\nWyoming<\/td>\n$134.62<\/td>\n$189.69<\/td>\n$324.31<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
46<\/td>\nMichigan<\/td>\n$134.14<\/td>\n$183.13<\/td>\n$317.27<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
47<\/td>\nIowa<\/td>\n$133.57<\/td>\n$181.20<\/td>\n$314.77<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
48<\/td>\nDelaware<\/td>\n$130.39<\/td>\n$183.23<\/td>\n$313.62<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
49<\/td>\nSouth Dakota<\/td>\n$128.98<\/td>\n$182.90<\/td>\n$311.88<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
50<\/td>\nWest Virginia<\/td>\n$130.33<\/td>\n$180.16<\/td>\n$310.49<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
51<\/td>\nVermont<\/td>\n$115.90<\/td>\n$153.82<\/td>\n$269.72<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

When that \u201ccheck engine\u201d light come on, there\u2019s a good reason to get worried. Repair costs shot up 10% last year – and a new survey says the numbers were even higher in some states. NJ? Fuhgeddaboutit. Which states had the highest — and lowest auto repair bills? TheDetroitBureau.com takes a look.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":42994,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"make":[],"post-state":[],"category_old":[151],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/61829"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=61829"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/61829\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/42994"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=61829"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=61829"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=61829"},{"taxonomy":"make","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/make?post=61829"},{"taxonomy":"post-state","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/post-state?post=61829"},{"taxonomy":"category_old","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/category_old?post=61829"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}