Overview
- The Gesamtverband der Deutschen Versicherungswirtschaft (GDV) found that average prices for 20 common replacement parts across 38 car models have risen by more than 80% since 2016.
- GDV reports that part prices grew about 5.9% per year over the last decade versus 2.8% annual inflation, and increased by more than 4% between August 2025 and August 2026.
- The association points to design protection that prevents independent makers from producing visually identical visible parts as a key reason independent competition is limited and prices stay high.
- Rising workshop hourly rates and added work to recalibrate sensors, cameras and driver-assist systems after repairs have further raised total repair bills and pressured insurers' loss costs.
- An EU decision in December 2023 to exempt repair parts from design protection could open the market, but Germany and other member states must transpose the rule into national law by the end of 2027 before competition can take effect.