While taking the car to the shop can be an unpleasant chore for most people, the auto repair sector is a vital industry in the US, even if an underappreciated one.
We have gathered some relevant car repair statistics to show you the average costs, the industry’s value and employment rates, and the latest trends in the sector.
We will further discuss the implementation of new technologies, the costs and popularity of electric and hybrid vehicles, and what experts predict for the future of the industry.
These stats will tell you everything you need before heading to the mechanic.
Statistics on Car Repair Cost and Trends (Editor’s Pick)
- The US car market sold over 14,500,000 vehicles in 2020
- The average annual salary of auto repair and maintenance employees is $43,251
- 18.7 million electric vehicles will be on the US roads by 2030
- The CAGR of the automotive repair industry is 7% for the 2021-2023 period
- 51% of drivers have tire jacks in their vehicles
- An engine overhaul for a Ferrari costs up to $30,000
- People keep their cars for 8.4 years on average
- Women account for 10.4% of the automotive engineer workforce
Auto Repair Industry Statistics
1. The US automotive market made 14,575,347 vehicle sales in 2020.
(CarSalesBase)
2020 was a difficult year for almost all industries. Similarly, automotive sales statistics show a noticeable drop in the number of vehicles.
Approximately 2.5 million fewer cars were sold than in 2019 — 14.53% difference. That is the most significant drop since 2009, when sales plummeted by 21.25%.
2. The US automotive repair industry has 162,000 establishments.
(First Reach)
The vehicle repair industry in the US is home to some major companies, such as Safelite Group, Meineke, and Midas, and contributes $115 billion annually to the economy.
3. 564,647 car mechanics work in the US.
(IBISWorld)
Given the auto repair sector’s vast scope, it’s no surprise over half a million mechanics currently work in the US.
According to automotive repair industry statistics, 67.5% of all enterprises are nonemployers.
4. The automotive collision repair industry will grow at a CAGR of 3.3% by 2026.
(Global Market Insights)
The market size for auto collision repairs was $304.9 billion in 2019. The industry is projected to experience gradual growth in the next six years due to the increased traffic volume. This, in turn, leads to an increase in different types of car accidents.
On-road traffic growth in emerging economies and more lenient traffic policies will be significant catalysts for this development. Auto repair industry analysis shows experts predict the market size to reach $306.8 billion by 2026.
5. Auto repair and maintenance industry employees earn an average of $43,251 annually.
(Data USA)
Automotive repair industry analysis shows a serious gender wage gap in this line of work. While men make an average of $44,392 per year, women receive only $33,489.
6. The global auto part and accessory manufacturing industry’s value is $2 trillion.
(IBISWorld)
Between 2015 and 2020, the worldwide market for auto part and accessory manufacturing grew by 3.2%.
According to the most recent auto parts industry statistics, there are around 57,965 manufacturers, and the sector employs 6,611,713 people worldwide.
Much of the industry growth by 2023 will come from the increased purchasing power of Brazil, Russia, India, and China.
7. By 2029, the job market for automotive service technicians and mechanics will shrink by 4%.
(BLS)
Despite the car industry’s future growth, car repair statistics reveal the job market for service technicians and mechanics will get smaller.
While the reasons behind this shrinkage are complex, technological innovations would mostly lead to fewer of these jobs. The increase in cars with remote diagnosis instruments and predictive maintenance will make some services less necessary.
Auto Repair Industry Trends 2021
8. Approximately 18.7 million electric vehicles will be on US roads by 2030.
(EEI)
Data on the electric automotive service industry reveals that by 2030, 7% of all US vehicles will be electric.
We can also notice the rise of the EV in Tesla statistics. The company had an impressive revenue of $21.46 billion in 2018 and observed growth of 30% in 2019.
9. Around 5.4 million hybrid electric cars have been sold in the US since 2019.
(USA Facts)
1.4 million plug-in electric cars have been sold since they came out in 2010.
The automotive stats reveal that out of the 32 hybrid models on the market, Toyota RAV4 was sold the most in 2019 — 92,525 sales. Ford Fusion & Milan sold 49,603 units that year.
10. The automotive repair industry’s projected CAGR for 2021-2023 is 7%.
(PRNewswire)
The automobile repair industry is projected to experience steady growth from 2021 onwards. By 2030, the market value is estimated to reach $828.6 billion.
Before the 2020 pandemic, the Asia-Pacific region was the most significant for the sector. In 2019, it accounted for 33% of worldwide sales.
11. The prices for used cars increased by nearly 30% in a year.
(Consumer Reports)
Automotive service industry analysis and statistics show a significant rise in the prices for used vehicles from May 2020 to May 2021.
Used car sales statistics show that the prices dropped when the pandemic started. It was the countrywide economic shutdown that trampled demand and depressed prices. The prices began rising, but this time from a much lower initial level. Consequently, used cars’ prices rose faster than the new ones.
12. In the second quarter of 2020, 50% of repaired cars underwent DTC scanning.
(Mitchell)
Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) scanning has grown in popularity in recent years.
One of the significant auto repair trends is using DTC scanning before and after a collision repair due to the effectiveness of this procedure. For comparison, in 2019, only 10% of the cars went through such scanning.
13. 57.6% of repair shops and dealerships observe more consumers putting off maintenance because of COVID-19.
(Dealer Marketing)
The coronavirus pandemic has placed most industries in a stranglehold, leaving many people strapped for cash. As a result, more clients are looking to cut costs by putting off their car maintenance.
We see these automotive repair industry trends for 2020 reflected in the data. For example, the need for car maintenance has grown by 62.3% due to cars not being used during the pandemic.
14. By 2028, the job market for automotive repair specialists will grow by 0.3% annually.
(Data USA)
Although the job market for mechanics may slump, the car repair sector’s overall labor pool will expand slightly.
According to auto repair industry statistics, between 2020 and 2028, the job market in this industry will grow by 6.89% and will employ 967,000 people.
15. North America accounts for 27.2% of the world’s automotive repairs and maintenance.
(AfternewsMarket)
According to the most recent research, North America accounts for a significant chunk of the global car repair sector in terms of value.
Automotive repair trends indicate that the region will rise in importance on the global stage — with a 5.8% CAGR in the 2017-2027 period.
16. The average number of glass-related repairs has grown by over 27% since 2018.
(Mitchell)
Glass repairs are rising in popularity due to one of the biggest auto repair industry trends at the moment — HUD technology.
Heads-Up-Display tech shows all the relevant data in the corner of your windshield. Consequently, more and more drivers integrating it into their cars are going for glass-related repairs.
Car Maintenance Data and Stats
17. Prices for lithium-ion battery packs dropped by 89% in the last ten years.
(BNEF)
One major factor contributing to the increasing accessibility of EVs is the cheaper manufacturing tech.
Battery packs have become much more streamlined, resulting in lower prices for consumers. Material technology and breakthroughs in chemistry have allowed for a much cheaper manufacturing process.
In 2019 alone, lithium-ion battery packs’ prices dipped by 13%, as our automotive repair market research uncovered.
18. 51% of drivers have a tire jack available in their cars.
(People)
People often lack the right tools for specific emergencies — only 47% of drivers have jumper cables in their cars. That’s why US roadside assistance services receive 1.76 million calls each year, on average.
Car repair stats also indicate that 31% of cars are incredibly cluttered.
19. New cars cost $1,186 per year to maintain on average.
(CreditKarma)
One thing any car buyer should consider before making a purchase is the cost of maintenance.
Fuel and oil, regular repairs, and upkeep can make a dent in your earnings. Automobile repair statistics suggest that maintaining a new car costs over $1,000 annually. Furthermore, the typical American household spent $2,094 on motor oil and gas in 2019.
20. A Ferrari engine overhaul can cost up to $30,000.
(MotorBuscuit)
Ferraris are extremely expensive for upkeep — almost as much as a new car.
For example, car repair statistics by brand reveal that the average motor overhaul costs $7,000. Such maintenance needs to be done at least every five years. If there are additional issues with the engine, the price can go up to $30,000.
21. Around 19% of people have neglected to wash their cars in the past three months.
(People)
35% of the drivers are uncertain how often they should wash their vehicles. Moreover, car maintenance statistics reveal that around 10% of people can’t even recall the last time they did.
22. The average annual cost of car repair in Vermont was $342.14 in 2019.
(CarMD)
A comparison of the average car repair cost around the US shows Vermont had the cheapest services in 2019.
Other affordable alternatives were Michigan with $350.77, Wisconsin with $349.08, and Ohio with $348.79.
In stark contrast, California had the highest average cost of $414.24 that year.
Other Curious Auto Repair Statistics
23. People keep their cars for 8.4 years on average.
(iSeeCars)
The average length of car ownership shows that drivers tend to keep Toyota Land Cruisers the longest — 11.4 years. The Chevrolet Corvette’s average ownership length is 10.5 years.
On the other hand, the Nissan Rogue is a popular car that owners don’t keep for very long — 6.8 years on average.
24. Opening a one-bay shop with basic equipment costs around $50,000.
(SBDC)
Auto repair shop industry analysis reveals that even a modestly outfitted, one-bay shop with a single-vehicle lift is expensive to establish.
The costs get even higher if you want a more advanced car shop. A shop with two vehicle lifts and more sophisticated equipment can cost around $75,000.
25. The average age of auto repair and maintenance industry employees is 40.9 years.
(Data USA, BLS)
The average age of the employees in the car repair sector is close to the national median of 41.9.
Stats on auto industry demographics reveal technicians and mechanics have a significant wage gap by ethnicity. Native Americans earn the most on average — $41,682 per year, and mixed-race workers the least, with an annual wage of $23,169.
26. 10.4% of automotive engineers are women.
(Zippia)
The field of automotive engineering is overwhelmingly male, at least 80% of the workforce. The rest of the automotive industry demographics is either female or undetermined.
The majority of automotive engineers are white, comprising 73% of the labor pool. Asian-Americans are the second-largest ethnic demographic — 14.3%.
African American workers comprise 2.9% of the car engineer workforce. At 0.5%, Native Americans are the smallest ethnic group in this profession.
Car Repair Statistics — Wrapup
The above statistics outline the most vital aspects of this sector and give you a good idea of its current situation. We also gathered practical information such as how much maintaining a car costs and how long people tend to keep their vehicles.
The car repair data indicates further growth and development of the industry. Some noticeable trends are a more digitized approach to handling repairs, such as DTC scans, and the integration of technologies like HUD.
With electric and hybrid vehicle sales on the rise, we are looking forward to seeing how the new technologies reshape the automotive repair market.
People Also Ask
The most frequent car repairs are oil change and filter replacement, as it ensures the car’s performance and prolongs its lifespan. Replacing wiper blades and washer fluid often happens too.
Air filter replacement to ensure breathability in the car and scheduled maintenance follow in frequency.
Putting on new tires or battery or brakes-related work is among the significant reasons to visit the mechanic.
The US car repair sector is substantial — an estimated 564,647 car mechanics work in 162,000 establishments.
The market size of the car collision repair industry was worth $304.9 billion in 2019. Experts predict it will continue growing up to $306.8 billion by 2026.
There are around 162,000 car repair shops in the US. The big-name brands are Firestone Complete Auto Care, Midas, Safelite Group, Monro Auto Service and Tire Centers, and Meineke Jiffy Lube.
According to the stats, the majority of establishments — 67.5% — are non-employers.
Car dealerships generally charge more for repairs than independent mechanics due to their specialization.
Dealership technicians also work with original parts. That makes their services more expensive, but they’re often more effective.
Typically, auto repair shops have two sources of profit — car parts and labor.
According to car repair statistics, the average profit margin of parts is between 20% and 28%, while labor brings between 50% and 65%.
