The automotive aftermarket and professional vehicle servicing industry is navigating a dynamic landscape shaped by economic pressures, shifting consumer behaviors, and evolving market conditions. The rising average vehicle age, now…
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US Auto Maintenance – DIY vs Servicing – Market Report 2025
"The auto aftermarket is evolving with a growing emphasis on DIY vehicle maintenance, professional servicing innovation, and value-driven consumer decisions."
US Auto Maintenance Industry – Trends and Insights
The automotive aftermarket and professional vehicle servicing industry is navigating a dynamic landscape shaped by economic pressures, shifting consumer behaviors, and evolving market conditions.
The rising average vehicle age, now over 12 years, is driving demand for maintenance, repairs, and replacement parts as consumers hold onto vehicles longer amid affordability concerns.
Imposed tariffs on imported auto parts are escalating costs, straining both businesses and consumers. These financial pressures, coupled with rising servicing costs, are fueling increased DIY participation, as cost-conscious consumers seek to save money by performing basic maintenance and repairs themselves.
Price-sensitive consumers are seeking affordable, value-driven solutions, pushing brands and servicers to balance cost and quality. Rising servicing costs and global trade dynamics are also encouraging innovation, such as recycling programs, domestic sourcing, and DIY-friendly product offerings, to mitigate price volatility and appeal to eco-conscious and hands-on buyers.
Overall, the industry must adapt to affordability concerns, by offering flexible, customer-centric solutions that address diverse needs while navigating rising costs, global uncertainties, and the growing DIY trend.
This Report Looks at the Following Areas:
DIY participation and specific repairs
Influential factors and sources of discovery impacting consumers’ product purchasing decision
Automotive aftermarket purchasing locations
Factors influencing consumers’ choice of automotive aftermarket retailer
Professional vehicle servicing history and influential factors
Attitudes toward automotive aftermarket products and retailers
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
What you need to know
Outlook for auto aftermarket and servicing
Opportunities
Launch branded, or co-branded, toolkits
Launch family-friendly DIY kits
Evolve beyond core products to align with consumer interests
Graph 27: sources empowering DIY maintenance, by age, 2025
Empowering DIYers across age groups
Tailor DIY support across gender
Graph 28: technology assistance as a source empowering DIY maintenance, by age and gender, 2025
Parents seek convenient solutions, empowerment
Graph 29: sources empowering DIY maintenance, parents vs overall, 2025
Empowering DIY among parents
Professional vehicle servicing
The enduring role of professional vehicle servicing
Graph 30: last time paid for professional vehicle servicing, 2025
Income-driven trends in professional vehicle servicing
Graph 31: paid for professional vehicle servicing within the last three years, by gender and income, 2025
Working situations drive consumers to servicing
Graph 32: paid for professional vehicle servicing in the past year, by work from home situation, 2025
Marketing to varying working situations
Professional service locations and influential factors
Mechanics, mistrust, and multiple quotes: the trust issue under the hood
Graph 33: attitudes toward professional servicing (% agree), by age, 2025
Navigating the service center spectrum
Graph 34: servicing locations in past three years, 2025
What’s driving servicing choices
Graph 35: factors influencing where to get vehicle serviced (% any rank), 2025
Generational shifts in service preferences
Graph 36: servicing locations in past three years, by age, 2025
Influential factors vary with age
Graph 37: factors influencing where to get vehicle serviced (% any rank), by age, 2025
Parenting and car care: convenience is key
Graph 38: servicing locations in past three years, parents vs overall, 2025
Innovation and Marketing strategies
Launch activity and innovation
Advance Auto Parts looks toward digital transformation
eBay puts consumers at ease with free returns
GitPart launches interactive 3D vehicle models
CarParts.com adds value to membership program
Stellantis deploys mobile vehicle servicing
Slate looks toward 3D printing, personalization
Appendix
Market definition
Consumer research questions
Consumer research methodology
Generations
Abbreviations and terms
Forecast methodology
Forecast fan chart methodology
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