According to CNBC, increasingly sophisticated vehicles are forcing repair shops to spend more on computers, software and calibration equipment, and mechanics say those costs are being passed on to consumers. Brooklyn auto mechanic Ralph Czeisler said he updates his computers every year and must maintain multiple systems for domestic, Asian and European vehicles, while AAA automotive engineering director Greg Brannon said modern repairs often require a laptop and brand-specific software and data subscriptions. The St. Louis Federal Reserve said repair costs rose about 60% from January 2019 to August 2026, compared with a 32% increase in overall inflation over the same period. A 2023 AAA study found that calibrating advanced driver-assistance systems can increase the cost of a collision repair by 37.6%. Czeisler also said a calibration machine costs about $28,000, the computer that comes with it costs another $12,000, and a full setup can reach $90,000.