UK Car Aftermarket Market Report 2025
"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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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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