Chapter 1: Automobile Insurance
Auto Repair Costs In Selected
Ohio Cities 1995 vs. 1999
 

Factored into the cost of auto insurance is the cost of vehicle repair. Garage labor rates continue to rise, based on the findings of OII's annual survey. Average repair shop rates of Ohio's major cities are provided for the years 1995 and 1999.

According to Insurance Information Institute Fact Book 2000, the average claim cost for property damage increased nearly 35% between 1989 and 1998. The average property damage claim in 1989 was $1,646, which rose to $2,220 in 1998. The Ohio Department of Public Safety reports the average property damage only cost per crash in 1998 in Ohio was $4,500.

Worth noting is the fact that auto accident claim costs have increased at a greater rate than general inflation. While the average paid property damage claim climbed 35% between 1989 and 1998, the overall cost of living rose 32%.

Hourly repair shop labor rates
Ohio garage labor rate increases from 1995 to 1999 varied anywhere from 13.2% (Toledo) to 19.3% (Cleveland), depending on the city. An annual survey conducted by the OII of its members serves as the basis of the repair rates shown for Ohio's eight largest cities. 1999 information was prepared by averaging the responses of 30 property/casualty insurers. As seen by the city average, repair rates in Ohio's major metro areas have increased by nearly 16.6% in the last five years. These labor costs are based on auto body (sheet metal) repair.
Average Repair Shop Rates by Ohio City-1995 vs. 1999
*City average refers to auto labor costs. The parts used are the prevailing prices manufacturers charge in Ohio as a whole, not by individual cities