Crash avoidance systems are pushing up average repair bills even as they cut the number of crashes drivers pay for at all, new insurance claims data shows. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports vehicle repair costs have risen more than 40% since 2020, though that figure omits crashes prevented by systems such as automatic emergency braking.

Sensors for automatic emergency braking, blind spot detection and lane departure warning often take the blame, but other factors also add to the bill. Sophisticated headlights, a shift toward SUVs and pickups over sedans, and once-premium features spreading into ordinary models all play a part, while nearly two-thirds of new vehicles now have all-wheel or four-wheel drive.

Data from the Highway Loss Data Institute on 2017-22 model year vehicles shows collision claim severity was about 10% higher for vehicles fitted with a bundle of driver assistance features, and property damage liability claim severity was about 15% higher, reflecting sensor replacement and calibration costs.

Claim frequency tells the other side of the story. Collision claims for the same equipped vehicles were filed about 10% less often, and property damage liability claims almost 40% less often, since the systems prevent many of the low-speed crashes behind most such claims. Overall losses came in about 5% lower for collision coverage and almost 30% lower for property damage liability, alongside a marked drop in injury claims.

Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Highway Loss Data Institute