GET A HANDLE ON THE SOARING COST OF OWNING A CAR

Car ownership has gotten a lot more expensive. From January 2020 to August 2025, ownership costs surged by 41%, according to an index from Navy Federal Credit Union. That compares with a 25% climb in overall consumer prices over the same period, based on the consumer price index.

- LISA GERSTNER

Steep increases in auto insurance premiums following the COVID-19 pandemic have been a major contributor. Costs for auto repairs have swelled, too, up 15% year over year in August, according to CPI data. Tariffs of 25% on imported car parts are driving up repair costs, as are more-complex repairs for vehicles packed with advanced technology, such as sensors that assist with blind-spot monitoring or warn you when you drift out of your lane. After a crash, fixing damage to these systems can add up to 37.6% to repair costs, according to AAA.

To mitigate ballooning car ownership expenses, try making these moves.