# Auto insurance rates are skyrocketing in part because repair costs are surging, because there aren’t enough mechanics **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussion\ **Created:** [January 19, 2026, 9:51pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/auto-insurance-rates-are-skyrocketing-in-part-because-repair-costs-are-surging-because-there-aren-t-enough-mechanics/204870 "2026-01-19T21:51:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Showing post:** 69
**Author:** ![davesmopar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/davesmopar/32/41750_2.png) [@davesmopar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davesmopar)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2026, 3:34am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/auto-insurance-rates-are-skyrocketing-in-part-because-repair-costs-are-surging-because-there-aren-t-enough-mechanics/204870/69 "2026-02-26T03:34:08Z")
> [@RandomTroll](#): > > Isn’t the work less physically-demanding with computer diagnosis, better tools, and design improved to make working on cars easier? Aren’t cars better-made, need less repair? Yeah, you hadn’t read through my P0717 issue, part of it I was using a friends Snap-on scanner, it cost around $6,500.00, it is NOT your parts store scanner and we ended up doing the more technical diag part, this thing is amazing what it will/can do, that being said, I still had to chase wires, do a ton of ohm readings and what nots…oh yeah, I also had to buy a jumper harness for the transmission, so that was an added cost to the diagnostic process… Yes, sometimes the diags can be pretty quick and easy, but not always, and pro level scanners are not cheap, and some/most/all require an expensive yearly subscription(s) for updates and links… I know master techs that tool cost investments are more than their nice houses cost… Here is a link to the P0717 issue… > [@2009 Chevrolet Cobalt LT 2.2L, 4T45E automatic (non turbo and FWD) = P0717](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2009-chevrolet-cobalt-lt-2-2l-4t45e-automatic-non-turbo-and-fwd-p0717/194542): > > 1st off, this is a father (disabled) - son (dummy) slow project (I am a full time care taker for my mom that can’t do much for herself, so not much time to work on it) that I am the money man and he is the labor. I (we) have already replaced the fuel lines (pressure/return full length), new Firestone tires, not econos, and a few other things… Did the ECM/TCM ground hack to fix a few other issues and works great… The P0717 is the turbine/input shaft speed sensor low or no voltage, It has a labor… And when I rebuilt my buddy’s automatic transmission, I had to buy about $500 or $600 for 3 or 4 specialty tools that I didn’t have access to being retired… (normally trans shops have them), The next one that I may build I am going to either have to make or buy a couple of specialty tools for it…So NO, modern cars are not always cheaper to work on… DO you not think that a DOHC with VVT’s is not much more labor intense to rebuild than an old 350ci Chevy engine, and you can’t even begin to imagine how much harder a 6-8-10 speed automatic trans vs an old 3 speed automatic trans is to work on… Now think about all the modules that newer vehicles have that all intertwin with each other… Sorry, but you have know idea of what all is involved with newer vehicles vs older ones… --- _[View the full topic](https://community.cartalk.com/t/auto-insurance-rates-are-skyrocketing-in-part-because-repair-costs-are-surging-because-there-aren-t-enough-mechanics/204870)._