2025
9
UK Car Aftermarket Market Report 2025
2025-11-11T12:01:54+00:00
REPA3DD6461_5AC9_41A8_B1B3_3C3463CB2067
2195
188477
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en_GB
Cost-of-living pressures are driving a decisive shift toward value-driven behaviours. Rising car parts and repair costs are hitting car owners hard, with 72% – rising to 92% among 17-44 year…
UK
Automotive
simple

UK Car Aftermarket Market Report 2025

Cost-of-living pressures are driving a decisive shift toward value-driven behaviours. Rising car parts and repair costs are hitting car owners hard, with 72% – rising to 92% among 17-44 year olds – now actively seeking cheaper maintenance and repair options.

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  1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

    • What you need to know
    • Outlook for car aftermarket
    • Opportunities
    • Turn the challenges of maintaining older cars into a loyalty-building opportunity
    • Leverage professional influence
    • A mobile mechanic service is an opportunity for local garages to expand their ecosystem and provide added convenience
  2. THE MARKET

    • Snapshot – market size and forecast
    • Most believe the cost of living crisis is far from over
    • Graph 1: perception of the state of the cost of living crisis in the UK, 2025
    • Rising cost of car parts and repairs
    • Graph 2: CPI, Spare parts and accessories, Maintenance and repairs, 2024-25
    • Ageing car parc will drive aftermarket opportunities
    • Graph 3: car parc age, 2019, 2023 and 2024
    • Motorists holding onto their cars longer and deferring maintenance increasing the risk of MOT failures
    • Graph 4: MOT class 3 and 4 vehicles testing results, initial failures by defect category, 2023-24
    • EV adoption will drive shift from exhausts to batteries
    • Graph 5: forecast for volume sales for hybrid and electric cars, 2024-29
    • Car aftermarket to reach £9.5bn by 2030
    • Ageing cars and EVs fuel 21.8% parts growth from 2025 to 2030
    • Graph 6: market size and forecast for car aftermarket, 2019-30
    • Impact of US trade disruption for the car aftermarket
    • Forecast – note on US trade disruption
    • Replacement tyres are still the largest aftermarket segment, but under pressure
    • Graph 7: car aftermarket segmentation, 2019-25
    • The rise of EVs creates opportunities for specialised tyres tailored to owners’ needs
  3. THE CONSUMER

    • Maintenance and servicing
    • Most replace parts during servicing, but many wait for issues to arise before taking action
    • Establish your brand as the authority in safety and preparedness
    • Cost of living pressures are pushing car owners towards affordable car part options
    • Graph 8: impact of the cost of living crisis on car maintenance decisions, % of respondents, 2025
    • Partner with discounters to expand distribution and reach cost-conscious consumers
    • Used and refurbished parts and DIY car repairs
    • Addressing costs and safety a key opportunity for tyre brands
    • Graph 9: most replaced car parts (within 12 months), 2024-25
    • Subscription services can remove the worry of unexpected expenses
    • Car parts purchasing
    • Younger car owners are leading the trend toward purchasing car parts online
    • Capture car part buyers on-the-go – directly from their car
    • Automotive retailer and manufacturer websites are the go-to for online car parts buyers
    • Graph 10: preferred retailers for online new car parts purchasing, 2024-25
    • Online marketplaces could become a compelling choice for car parts buyers
    • Graph 11: motivations for buying from an online marketplace, 2024
    • Attitudes to car maintenance and servicing
    • Price matters, but trust, convenience and flexibility drive car maintenance decisions
    • Local garages are the go-to option for most when it comes to fitting replacement parts
    • Highlight local roots and community involvement
    • 86% of 17-44 year olds want loyalty schemes that offers discounts on car maintenance services
    • On-demand car repairs anytime, anywhere
    • Win younger drivers with price competitiveness and older drivers with trust
  4. PRODUCT, INNOVATION AND MARKETING

    • Comparing the leading vehicle maintenance brands in the UK
    • National Tyre Service customer and spend growth soar
    • Graph 12: leading vehicle maintenance brands, growth in spend and customer numbers, 2024/25
    • Safety-focused campaigns are twice as effective as standard ads
    • Kwik Fit building loyalty through exceptional service
    • Cost-saving messaging likely to capture attention and drive engagement
    • AI-driven mechanic in your pocket
    • Compare prices and choose the service that suits you
    • U-Pull-It empowering DIY car repairs on a budget
    • eBay’s proactive push to expand its role as a major player in the car aftermarket
  5. APPENDIX

    • Market definition
    • The market
    • Forecast methodology
    • Forecast methodology – fan chart
    • Market size and forecast: underlying data
    • Market forecast and prediction intervals (value)
    • The consumer
    • Consumer research questions
    • Consumer research methodology
    • UK generation groups
    • Supplementary data
    • Advertising and marketing
    • Other data source methodologies
    • Nielsen Ad Intel coverage
    • Snoop SpendMapper methodology
    • Abbreviations
Download Report Summary

"The cost of living crisis and rising car part and repair costs are driving 72% of car owners to seek more affordable maintenance and servicing options."

Steven Mayles, Retail Analyst

UK Car Aftermarket Industry – Trends and Insights

  • Cost-of-living pressures are driving a significant shift towards value-driven behaviours, with 72% of car owners – rising to 92% among 17-44 year olds – actively seeking cheaper maintenance and repair options.
  • Rising car parts and repair costs are pushing motorists towards budget parts, DIY repairs, and delaying non-essential work. This trend is expected to slow car aftermarket growth to just 1.7% in 2025, with the market valued at £7.8 billion as deferred repairs impact demand.
  • Tyres are experiencing the greatest cost-cutting pressures, while ‘other parts’ – including shock absorbers, oil filters, exhausts, batteries, brakes, clutches, and lightbulbs – are expected to perform slightly better in comparison.
  • Despite current financial pressures, the car aftermarket is projected to reach £9.5 billion by 2030, driven by an ageing car parc and the growing adoption of EVs, which are increasing demand for replacement parts, servicing, and specialised EV maintenance.
  • Brands can attract cost-conscious consumers by offering loyalty scheme discounts and remanufactured parts. Looking ahead, innovations such as AI-driven diagnostics and flexible services like mobile mechanics will transform the market, positioning it for long-term growth.

Key Issues Covered in this Report:

  • Impact of the cost-of-living crisis on maintenance frequency and spend
  • Demand for affordable options like refurbished parts and the opportunity for discounter partnerships
  • The popularity of buying replacement parts online and the top destinations for online car parts buyers
  • How local garages and mobile mechanics cater to motorists’ need for convenience and flexibility
  • Digital technologies taking the guesswork out of car service and maintenance, saving motorists time and money
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