Nearly three-quarters of vehicle owners performed DIY maintenance work last year. Rising costs caused more than half of drivers to delay repairs. This data reveals how consumer behavior and economic pressures are reshaping the auto care market.
Key Takeaways
- 72% of U.S. vehicle owners performed at least one DIY maintenance task in 2023.
- The auto care industry employs over 4.7 million people in the U.S. as of 2023.
- The U.S. auto care industry generated $71.5 billion in revenue from parts and components in 2022, marking a 4.2% increase from the previous year.
- Tire segment accounted for 28% of U.S. aftermarket sales in 2022, totaling $20.1 billion.
- 45% of aftermarket products now incorporate ADAS technology as of 2023.
Auto care industry statistics show consistent growth driven by rising vehicle miles and preventive maintenance habits.
Related reading
01 · Category
Consumer Trends & Behavior19 stats
01
72% of U.S. vehicle owners performed at least one DIY maintenance task in 2023.
02
68% of millennials prefer independent repair shops over dealerships for routine maintenance.
03
Average annual spending per U.S. vehicle owner on maintenance and repairs was $1,243in 2022.
04
55% of U.S. drivers delayed vehicle repairs in 2023 due to inflation concerns.
05
Electric vehicle owners spend 30% less on maintenance compared to ICE vehicle owners annually.
06
41% of Gen Z consumers research auto parts online before purchasing in-store.
07
Women account for 52% of auto care product purchases in the U.S. as of 2023.
08
64% of U.S. households own vehicles older than 6 years, driving higher aftermarket demand.
09
Online auto parts sales grew 15.2% YoY to $25.6 billion in the U.S. in 2022.
10
78% of U.S. drivers prioritize fuel efficiency when choosing auto care products.
11
76% of Gen X drivers perform routine checks monthly.
12
59% of EV owners use mobile apps for maintenance scheduling.
13
Hispanic consumers represent 22% of aftermarket spending growth.
14
67% prefer eco-friendly products, willing to pay 10% premium.
15
Average repair delay now 2.3 months due to costs.
16
81% of boomers stick to same repair shop for loyalty.
17
Online reviews influence 73% of service choices.
18
Urban drivers spend 25% more on repairs than rural.
19
49% increased spending on premium parts post-pandemic.
Interpretation
Consumer Trends & Behavior Interpretation
Americans are pragmatically stitching their aging cars together with a mix of DIY grit, savvy online shopping, and brand loyalty, all while nervously eyeing their wallets and the future, whether it's electric or just more expensive.
02 · Category
Employment & Economic Impact19 stats
01
The auto care industry employs over 4.7 million people in the U.S. as of 2023.
02
Independent repair shops number 168,000 in the U.S., employing 1.2 million workers.
03
Auto parts manufacturing supports 4.1 million jobs nationwide in 2022.
04
Average wage for auto technicians is $52,000annually in the U.S. 2023.
05
The industry contributes $1.1 trillion to U.S. GDP, or 5% of total in 2022.
06
72,000 new jobs created in auto aftermarket in 2022 due to market growth.
07
Women represent 12% of automotive technicians, up from 8% in 2018.
08
Dealer service departments employ 450,000 technicians servicing 120 million vehicles annually.
09
Shortage of 650,000 auto technicians projected by 2029 in North America.
10
Auto care exports from U.S. totaled $45.2 billion in 2022, supporting 300,000 jobs.
11
Auto care industry added 55,000 jobs in 2023.
12
3.2 million direct jobs in repair and retail.
13
Turnover rate for technicians at 35% annually.
14
Training investments total $2.5 billion yearly.
15
Industry pays $250 billion in wages annually.
16
15% growth in female-owned repair shops.
17
Apprenticeships enrolled 120,000 new workers.
18
Tax revenue from industry $150 billion yearly.
19
Supply chain jobs 1.8 million supported.
Interpretation
Employment & Economic Impact Interpretation
The auto care industry, with its vast workforce and trillion-dollar economic footprint, is a formidable engine of the U.S. economy, yet it's frantically training apprentices and recruiting more women to fill the massive shortage of technicians needed to keep 120 million vehicles—and the entire system—from grinding to a halt.
03 · Category
Market Size & Growth19 stats
01
The U.S. auto care industry generated $71.5 billion in revenue from parts and components in 2022, marking a 4.2% increase from the previous year.
02
Global automotive aftermarket size was valued at USD 384.76 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 550.12 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 5.2%.
03
The North American automotive aftermarket is expected to grow from $270.9 billion in 2023 to $381.2 billion by 2032 at a CAGR of 3.9%.
04
U.S. automotive aftermarket sales reached $413 billion in 2022, with a forecast to hit $500 billion by 2027.
05
The European auto aftermarket generated €110 billion in 2022, up 2.5% from 2021.
06
Asia-Pacific automotive aftermarket size stood at $145.3 billion in 2022, projected to grow at 6.8% CAGR to 2030.
07
U.S. DIY auto care sales totaled $9.1 billion in 2022, representing 12.7% of total aftermarket sales.
08
The global auto repair and maintenance market was valued at $803.2 billion in 2023, expected to reach $1,128.4 billion by 2031 at 4.3% CAGR.
09
Latin America automotive aftermarket revenue hit $28.4 billion in 2022, with Brazil contributing 45%.
10
U.S. commercial vehicle aftermarket projected to grow from $58.2 billion in 2023 to $82.7 billion by 2030 at 5.1% CAGR.
11
U.S. auto care industry generated $73.2 billion in revenue from parts in 2023, up 2.4%.
12
Global aftermarket CAGR forecasted at 4.8% from 2024-2030, reaching $492 billion.
13
China's automotive aftermarket valued at $120 billion in 2023, growing 7.5%.
14
U.S. heavy-duty aftermarket hit $37.5 billion in 2023.
15
India auto aftermarket projected to reach $25 billion by 2027 at 9% CAGR.
16
DIFM (Do-It-For-Me) segment dominates with 87% of U.S. aftermarket sales in 2023.
17
Middle East aftermarket size $18.7 billion in 2023, CAGR 5.6% to 2030.
18
U.S. light vehicle aftermarket $380 billion in 2023.
19
Africa automotive aftermarket $12.4 billion, growing 6.2% annually.
Interpretation
Market Size & Growth Interpretation
Clearly, our vehicles are determined to remain both a necessity and a perpetually profitable puzzle, with the global aftermarket proving that while we may dream of self-driving cars, the real money is in keeping the old ones driving.
More related reading
04 · Category
Product & Service Segments19 stats
01
Tire segment accounted for 28% of U.S. aftermarket sales in 2022, totaling $20.1 billion.
02
Brake parts represented 15.3% of aftermarket revenue at $10.9 billion in 2022.
03
Battery sales in the U.S. aftermarket reached $4.2 billion in 2022, up 6.8%.
04
Oil and filter changes generated $12.5 billion in service revenue in 2022.
05
Collision repair services comprised 22% of aftermarket, valued at $42.3 billion in 2023.
06
Appearance products like car washes contributed $8.7 billion to U.S. aftermarket in 2022.
07
Wiper blades sales hit $2.1 billion, holding 3% market share in 2022.
08
Engine parts segment grew 5.1% to $9.8 billion in U.S. aftermarket 2022.
09
Transmission repair services valued at $15.4 billion, 19% of service aftermarket.
10
Chemical products like additives reached $3.5 billion in sales during 2022.
11
Accessories segment $45.6 billion in U.S. 2023, 11% of market.
12
Filters (air, fuel, cabin) $6.8 billion sales in 2023.
13
Suspension/steering parts $11.2 billion, up 3.7%.
14
Electrical parts $7.9 billion in 2023 aftermarket.
15
Wheel alignment services $4.5 billion annually.
16
Paint and body supplies $5.3 billion in collision segment.
17
Lighting products $3.7 billion, LED growth 12%.
18
Exhaust systems $4.1 billion sales 2023.
19
HVAC components $2.9 billion in aftermarket.
Interpretation
Product & Service Segments Interpretation
This $296 billion industry reveals that while we may not agree on the road, our collective need for new tires, brake jobs, and a freshly detailed dashboard proves we’re all united in our quiet, expensive desperation to keep our rolling sanctuaries from falling apart.
05 · Category
Technology & Sustainability19 stats
01
45% of aftermarket products now incorporate ADAS technology as of 2023.
02
EV aftermarket parts market expected to grow at 25% CAGR to 2030.
03
62% of repair shops adopted diagnostic software in the last two years.
04
Sustainable tire recycling reached 85% rate in the U.S., diverting 2.6 million tons annually.
05
Telematics-enabled vehicles in aftermarket services grew 18% to 15 million units in 2023.
06
Bio-based lubricants market in auto care projected to hit $2.1 billion by 2028.
07
35% of new auto parts are remanufactured, reducing CO2 emissions by 50%.
08
AI predictive maintenance tools adopted by 28% of U.S. fleets in 2023.
09
Hydrogen fuel cell aftermarket components emerging, valued at $120 million in 2023.
10
52% of shops use cloud-based management systems.
11
Recycled parts usage up 22% to 1.5 million tons.
12
Connected diagnostics market $8.2 billion by 2028.
13
Low-emission paints adopted by 48% of bodyshops.
14
Blockchain for parts traceability in 12% of chains.
15
3D printing for custom parts grew 40%.
16
Solar-powered diagnostic tools in 5% of shops.
17
AR repair guides used by 29% technicians.
18
Carbon-neutral lubricants $1.2 billion market.
19
Autonomous repair robots piloted in 3% fleets.
Interpretation
Technology & Sustainability Interpretation
The auto care industry is frantically bolting tech-forward, eco-conscious upgrades onto our vehicles, proving that keeping up with cars now means wielding diagnostic software and sustainable tires like a surgeon with a conscience.
Reference
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APA
Nathan Caldwell. (2026, February 13). Auto Care Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/auto-care-industry-statistics
MLA
Nathan Caldwell. "Auto Care Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/auto-care-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Nathan Caldwell. 2026. "Auto Care Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/auto-care-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
62 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level