Auto Repair Shops NAICS 811111

Sep 30, 2025 - Auto Repair Prices Spike

• As of August 2025, vehicle maintenance costs are 8.5% higher than last year, with the average repair now costing $838, according to Kelley Blue Book. A 2025 FinanceBuzz survey found 58% of drivers couldn’t afford an emergency repair costing $1,000 or more, highlighting a growing affordability gap. Even minor accidents can be costly; a lightly damaged bumper can now run $1,600 or more when factoring in sensors like blind-spot and backup systems, which often require programming at the dealership. Rising labor and technology costs are driving these increases, making once-simple fixes increasingly expensive. Experts recommend cost-saving strategies such as buying OEM parts, taking advantage of coupons or discounts, and performing some routine maintenance at home, like oil or transmission fluid changes. Delaying repairs can escalate costs further, so addressing issues early is crucial to avoid even higher expenses down the road.
• Employment as an automotive technician is leveling off with a 0.9% growth rate year over year in June 2025, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. As automobiles become more electrified and controlled by on-board computer systems, the profession has broadened its appeal as a high-tech field with a skillset that can later be transferred into other mechanical applications like diesel vehicles and wind turbines. It is good news for an industry that is estimated to need one million technicians in the next five years to keep up with demand. The amount of technical skills required to repair modern cars is also helping to boost wages. The average hourly salary was $30.06 in June 2025, an 8.8% year-over-year bump.

• Americans are driving their current cars and trucks longer, which might be bad news for automakers and dealerships, but is a potential boon for the aftermarket and repair industries. According to S&P Global, the last two years have seen a steady increase in vehicle age, with Americans keeping their cars for 12.8 years on average while pickup trucks last 14 years. Reasons for longer auto life include saving money in the face of higher new car prices, as well as engineering advances that can keep a well-maintained car on the road longer. Scrappage rates - the percentage of vehicles removed from operation - have held steady despite new vehicle registrations topping 16 million in 2024. Both statistics indicate an aging American fleet on the roads. Maintenance demands are expected to soar in the coming years if the trend holds and car prices continue to rise.
• The auto repair industry is increasingly looking to Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) certification programs as a way to both simplify their businesses and ensure steady repair work without the hassle of insurance claims. OEM certifications allow an independent auto repair shop to develop a relationship with local dealerships to work on a specific brand of car for that dealership. With the average car dealership servicing about 100 autos a day, independent shops can tap into that business to ease the workload on a dealership and develop a new, reliable customer base. Automakers are increasingly incentivizing OEM certifications, such as an app released by GM that includes certified repair shops for customers seeking repairs. In addition, some electric vehicles and foreign manufacturers limit replacement parts to only certified shops, further increasing the appeal of OEM certifications to independent repair shops.