CarMD released its annual state ranking of check engine light-related car repair costs report, finding that vehicle owners in Connecticut paid the most while Maine paid the least for repairs during 2021.
“Several factors contribute to a state’s average repair costs, including vehicle year, make and model, the repair difficulty and associated parts cost,” said David Rich, technical director, CarMD. “It makes sense that as people hold onto their vehicles longer than ever before, cars and trucks start to outlast their parts and need more costly repairs. Staying current on maintenance can help vehicle owners reduce surprise car repair bills, while fixing check engine light problems quickly can improve fuel economy and reduce the likelihood of additional repairs down the road.”
Top five states with the highest car repair costs in 2021:
| State | Average labor cost | Average parts cost | Average total repair cost (labor + parts) |
| Connecticut | $136.84 | $281.53 | $418.37 |
| Colorado | $148.66 | $268.48 | $417.14 |
| California | $144.56 | $271.10 | $411.00 |
| District of Columbia | $141.00 | $270.00 | $411.00 |
| Georgia | $145.34 | $262.37 | $407.71 |
Five states with the lowest car repair costs in 2021:
| State | Average labor cost | Average parts cost | Average total repair cost (labor + parts) |
| Wisconsin | $138.95 | $222.16 | $361.11 |
| Iowa | $145.96 | $214.00 | $359.96 |
| Michigan | $145.03 | $211.26 | $356.29 |
| Ohio | $136.07 | $217.69 | $353.76 |
| Maine | $135.35 | $213.90 | $349.25 |
Other key findings:
Labor costs:
- For the sixth consecutive year, Vermont had the lowest average labor cost ($127.15) for check engine-light related repairs. This is not surprising since the most common reason for the check engine light on Vermont vehicles is an affordable fix to tighten or replace a loose or missing gas cap, which reflects on the average repair cost, CarMD reported.
- For the fourth year in a row, drivers in Mississippi paid the most on average for labor ($151.67), where the most common repair was to replace ignition coils and spark plugs, according to CarMD's report. Factors to consider: type of repair, how long the repair will take, what the shop charges per hour, and whether you opt to do it yourself or have it repaired by a professional automotive technician.
Parts costs:
- With supply chain issues impacting new vehicle availability and average vehicle age reaching an all-time high, parts costs have increased with higher-ticket repairs needed as cars outlast their parts.
- Not surprisingly, drivers in Michigan paid the least on average for car parts ($211.26), but this is up nearly 5 percent from a year ago.
- This past year, Connecticut drivers paid the most on average for parts ($281.53). The type of vehicle, type of repair and whether original equipment (OE) parts are used factor into average parts cost, CarMD reported.
To see how your state ranked, click here.
