There’s no question that modern technology has changed the roadways. When a fender bender happens today, there are sonic sensors, wiring harnesses, cameras, lidar, radar, and sometimes even more to fix. That hardware helps explain why it’s so expensive to repair what used to be very minor accidents. New data from IIHS-HLDI suggests we’re seeing only half the story, though. The number that matters more is how many crashes never happen in the first place.

 

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, vehicle repair prices have increased by more than 40 percent since 2020. It’s tempting to point directly at automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-departure warnings, then call it a day. Those systems certainly add cost when a car does hit something, but modern vehicles have become more expensive to fix for plenty of other reasons too.