Motor Vehicle Insurance CPI
Year-over-year change in auto insurance premiums
Historically follows CPI Inflation Rate (All Items) by 3 quarters — no active signal. CPI Inflation Rate (All Items) · View projections
What is the current Motor Vehicle Insurance CPI?
Motor vehicle insurance prices rose 5.9% year-over-year as of February 2026, according to BLS CPI data (series CUSR0000SETD). While down from the June 2023 peak of 19.8% YoY, auto insurance inflation continues to outpace headline CPI by a wide margin. The cumulative effect means auto insurance premiums are roughly 50% higher than in 2020. This persistent cost pressure disproportionately affects lower-income households, where auto insurance represents a larger share of disposable income. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics (CUSR0000SETD).
Motor Vehicle Insurance CPI at 5.5%
Tracking improving relative to recent baseline.
Explore Further
How has Motor Vehicle Insurance CPI changed over time?
| Period | Value | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|
| Feb 2026 | 5.89% | +0.1 pts |
| Jan 2026 | 5.48% | −0.4 pts |
| Dec 2025 | 5.6% | −0.6 pts |
| Nov 2025 | 7.15% | +1.4 pts |
| Sep 2025 | 7.68% | +2.8 pts |
| Aug 2025 | 8.5% | +4.4 pts |
| Jul 2025 | 6.54% | +1.9 pts |
| Jun 2025 | 5.15% | −0.9 pts |
| May 2025 | 5.12% | −2.1 pts |
| Apr 2025 | 5.56% | −2.0 pts |
| Mar 2025 | 4.83% | −3.4 pts |
| Feb 2025 | 5.77% | −0.9 pts |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much has auto insurance gone up?
Motor vehicle insurance prices rose 5.9% year-over-year as of February 2026 (BLS series CUSR0000SETD). From the June 2023 peak of 19.8% YoY, the rate has declined but remains well above the long-run average of roughly 3-4% annual growth. Cumulatively, auto insurance premiums are approximately 50% higher than early 2020.
Why is auto insurance so expensive?
Three factors drive elevated auto insurance costs: higher vehicle repair costs (parts inflation + labor shortages), increased claim severity (more expensive vehicles, advanced sensors), and higher reinsurance costs passed down from catastrophe losses. Unlike gas prices, insurance costs are sticky — once premiums rise, they rarely decline.
How does auto insurance inflation connect to the American Distress Index?
Auto insurance CPI is tracked as a context indicator for the ADI's Cost Pressure dimension. While not directly in the composite, it illustrates the gap between headline CPI and the costs households actually face — a dynamic the ADI captures through its healthcare and shelter inflation spreads.
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