Repair Shop Research

September 16, 2024

Perception of the Trades: Evolving Attitudes and Recommendations

In recent years, conversations around career options for the next generation have seen a notable shift, with traditional 4-year college degrees remaining prominent but with a growing recognition of the …

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March 28, 2023

Current Challenges for Independent Automotive Repair Shops – 2023

At the beginning of 2023 IMR surveyed independent automotive repair shops to get insight into what they believe their biggest challenges will be in 2023. Given the changing market dynamics …

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November 8, 2022

IMR’s ‘U.S. Household Perception of the Trades’ Report (With a Focus on the Automotive Technician Career Path)

Read updated study: September 2024 – Perceptions of the Trades: Evolving Attitudes and Recommendations The U.S. workforce is struggling to fill a massive gap in the skilled trades industry and …

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September 27, 2022

The Importance of Private Label and National Branded Parts at Independent Auto Repair Shops (2022 Update)

IMR recently spoke with the person most responsible for making parts purchasing decisions at 500 independent automotive repair shops. Our focus was to understand their use and perceptions of private …

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September 7, 2022

2022 Update: Private Label/Store Brand Parts Purchasing by Independent Auto Repair Shops

In July 2022, we spoke with 500 independent automotive repair shops about their purchase frequency and use of private label brands as well as the reasons why they use private …

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August 3, 2022

Impact of Battery Electric Vehicle and Hybrid Electric Vehicle Repair and Service at Independent Repair Shops (Update 2022)

Between July 4th and July 29th, 2022, IMR interviewed 5000 independent automotive repair shops, nationally representative by location in the U.S., to get insight into their service exposure to Battery …

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April 5, 2022

Current and Future Challenges for Independent Repair Shops – 2022

Read updated study: March 2023 – Current Challenges for Independent Automotive Repair Shops – 2023 At the beginning of 2022, IMR surveyed independent automotive repair shops to get insight into …

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September 20, 2021

Effects of Supply Chain Disruptions on Independent Automotive Repair Shops

In August 2021, IMR interviewed 500 independent automotive repair shops, nationally representative by location in the U.S., to get insights on whether supply chain disruptions were affecting their business and …

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August 30, 2021

E-Commerce Purchasing Behavior at Independent Auto Repair Shops

In July 2021, IMR interviewed 500 independent automotive repair shops, nationally representative by location in the U.S., to get insights into their use of publicly available websites for parts purchasing …

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July 21, 2021

Impact of Battery Electric Vehicle And Hybrid Electric Vehicle Repair and Service at Independent Repair Shops

Between May 3rd and June 30th, 2021, IMR interviewed 1,000 independent automotive repair shops, nationally representative by location in the U.S., to get insight into their service exposure to Battery …

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March 1, 2021

The Importance of Private Label and National Branded Parts at Independent Auto Repair Shops

IMR recently spoke with the person most responsible for making parts purchasing decisions at 500 independent automotive repair shops. Our focus was to understand their use and perceptions of private …

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February 26, 2021

Update: Private Label/Store Brand Parts Purchasing by Independent Auto Repair Shops

In January 2021, we spoke with 500 independent automotive repair shops about their purchase frequency and use of private label brands. IMR started asking these questions in 2018 (Auto Repair …

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December 10, 2020

2020 EOY Independent Automotive Repair Shop Health & Part Delivery Disruption Update

As of December 2020, ninety-one percent of independent automotive repair shops reported a decrease in revenue this year.  18.5% of shops report they have returned to ‘normal’ revenue levels while 1.3% …

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August 27, 2020

Private Label/Store Brand Parts Purchasing by Independent Auto Repair Shops

Over the past two years, independent automotive repair shops have reported that they’ve increased their purchases of private label/store brand parts.  In 2018, (Auto Repair Shop Private-Label/Store-Brand Part Purchasing Study) …

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June 22, 2020

Delayed Vehicle Maintenance | Q1 – Q2 2020

Each quarter, IMR interviews 25,000 households about how they’ve serviced and maintained all the vehicles in their household (IMR Vehicle Maintenance Tracking Study) and, equally as important, what service, maintenance …

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June 8, 2020

Challenges for Independent Repair Shops and Technicians the Remainder of 2020 (COVID-19 Update)

At the beginning of 2020, prior to the pandemic, we surveyed independent automotive repair shops to get insight into what they thought their biggest challenges would be for 2020, for …

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May 13, 2020

Disruption in Auto Parts Availability Affecting Repair Shop Purchasing Behavior

Independent repair shops have seen a large drop in business due to the COVID-19 pandemic and shelter-in-place restrictions.  Some shops are faring better than others, some are more optimistic than …

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March 31, 2020

Automotive Parts & Service Consumer Purchasing Behavior During an Economic Downturn

The U.S. is experiencing an unprecedented economic shock due to the Covid-19 pandemic.  Nearly every industry is being affected by the temporary shutdown in business activities.  While we hope business …

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January 22, 2020

Challenges for Independent Repair Shops and Technicians in 2020; Advice they’d give to Future Technicians

Heading into 2020, according to independent automotive repair shops, the biggest challenges to shops and their technicians include finding time for hands on training (42.6%), staying up to date with …

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November 18, 2019

CELL PHONE USAGE IN BAYS AT INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOPS

Nearly every auto repair technician owns a cell phone (99.6%), and nearly half own a tablet or iPad (46.4%). For 57%, those personal devices end up in their working bay. …

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May 15, 2019

Install-it-for-me at Independent Repair Shops

Consumers continue to bring parts to repair shops they’ve bought at retailers or online sources. While shops field these requests, some shops are more open to installing these parts than …

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January 9, 2019

Part Delivery Times at Independent Automotive Repair Shops

When an independent auto repair shop orders parts, delivery time can vary widely depending on the type of part.  Some shops are willing to wait longer for parts as well…read …

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August 28, 2018

Independent Auto Repair Shop’s Competitor Perceptions & Differentiation

This month’s insight follows up on our last insight (Independent Auto Repair Shop’s Biggest Competitors) and describes who the independent auto repair shop’s top competitors are, why they’re the shop’s …

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July 30, 2018

Independent Auto Repair Shop’s Biggest Competitors

We asked independent automotive repair shops who they perceive to be their biggest competitors.  Their views of their top competitors are very consistent with channel share metrics tracked by IMR.  …

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June 12, 2018

How Repair Shops are Investing in their Future

We asked General Automotive Repair Shops what investments they were making in their shops.  The majority of those shops are making investments in their business to improve or maintain their …

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February 20, 2018

Electric/Hybrid Vehicle Service & Maintenance Trends

Slightly more than one quarter (26.8%) of general automotive repair shops serviced hybrid vehicles in the past month while 8.8% of general automotive repair shops serviced electric vehicles in the …

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October 2, 2017

Repair Shop’s Potential to Switch 1st Call Supplier

Automotive parts suppliers have strong satisfaction levels, with all shops rating their experience over the past few months as good, very good or excellent. Despite these strong scores, one-third of …

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August 1, 2017

Threats to General Repair Shop Business

In June, we asked general automotive repair shops about current and future threats to their business. Of the six current/future threats asked about, the cost of tools and equipment required …

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July 18, 2017

eTailing in the Automotive Aftermarket

Overall, eTailing* amongst General Automotive Repair Shops was reported as 5.5% in May 2017. General Automotive Repair Shops that focus on Domestic vehicles versus Foreign vehicles have different eTailing habits. Seven …

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January 30, 2017

Vehicle Not Performing Well Primary Reason Both DIY and DIFM Customers Get Ignition Parts Serviced According to IMR Inc.’s CCAMS Study

Whether it’s a DIYer or a DIFM customer, a vehicle not performing well is the primary reason that motorists service or repair their vehicle when it relates to ignition parts, …

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July 7, 2016

Independent Repair Shops Consistent with Filtration Purchases

Whether it for domestic, Asian or European vehicles, independent repair shops make the WD their first choice when it comes to filtration products. However, for European vehicles (64.6 percent), the …

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June 30, 2016

WDs Get 65 Percent of Filtration Business for Asian Vehicles

As with domestic vehicles, warehouse distributors receive over 65 percent of the business from independent repair shops when it comes to filtration products for Asian vehicles. IMR Inc.’s Repair Shop …

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March 23, 2016

Repair Shops Turn to WDs for Temperature Control Parts for European Vehicles According to IMR’s Repair Shop Tracking Study

As it was with domestic and Asian vehicles, independent repair shops prefer the WD when it comes to purchasing temperature control parts for European vehicles. According to IMR Inc.’s Repair …

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March 16, 2016

WDs Get Slightly More Temperature Control Parts Business for Asian Vehicles from Repair Shops than for Domestic Vehicles According to IMR’s Repair Shop Tracking Study

IMR Inc.’s Repair Shop Tracking Study reveals that WDs get 59.1 percent of the temperature control parts business from independent repair shops. This percentage is higher than the amount of …

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March 9, 2016

IMR’s Repair Shop Tracking Study Reveals Retailers Getting 40 Percent of Temperature Control Business for Domestic Vehicles from Repair Shops

Auto parts retailers are receiving 40 percent of temperature control product business from independent repair shops according to IMR Inc.’s Repair Shop Tracking Study. WDs are receiving 56.6 percent of …

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February 24, 2016

IMR Repair Shop Tracking Study Reveals WDs Get Majority of Ride Control Business for European Vehicles from Independent Repair Shops

As with ride control products for Asian vehicles, independent repair shops make the WD their preferred choice when it comes to purchasing ride control parts for European vehicles. According to …

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February 17, 2016

IMR’s Repair Shop Tracking Study Reveals WDs Get about Two-Thirds of Ride Control Business for Asian Vehicles

When independent repair shops are looking for ride control products for Asian vehicles, almost two-thirds of those shops surveyed said they buy from the warehouse distributor first. IMR Inc.’s Repair …

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February 11, 2016

Most Repair Shops Head to WD for Ride Control Products for Domestic Vehicles According to IMR Inc.’s Repair Shop Tracking Study

Almost 60 percent of independent repair shops use the warehouse distributor as their primary choice for ride control products for domestic vehicles. According to IMR Inc.’s Repair Shop Tracking Study, …

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February 3, 2016

Dealers May Not Get First Call but Still Get Business from Shops According to IMR Repair Shop Tracking Study

Although dealerships only received three percent of the first calls for parts from independent repair shops they still got business from over 20 percent of those shops, according to IMR’s …

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February 1, 2016

Independent Repair Shops Called Retailers First More in 2015 According to IMR Inc.’s Repair Shop Tracking Study

Retailers saw an increase in the number of independent repair shops making them their first call for parts in 2015. In 2014, 36.2 percent of shops called the retailer first …

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January 28, 2016

Average Number of Technicians at Independent Repair Shops Up According to IMR Repair Shop Tracking Study

The average number of service technicians at independent repair shops was up in 2015, as compared to the same time period in 2014, according to IMR’s Repair Shop Tracking Study. …

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January 27, 2016

Average Repair Orders Down but Dollar Value up in 2015 According to IMR Repair Shop Tracking Study

Although the average number of repair orders for independent repair shops dropped to 54.5 per week in the final three months of 2015 compared to the rest of the year, …

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January 14, 2016

Independent Repair Shops See Slight Uptick in Servicing Imports in 2015 According to IMR Inc.’s Repair Shop Tracking Study

In 2015, independent repair shops increased the number of imports they serviced according IMR Inc.’s Repair Shop Tracking Study. In the fourth quarter of 2015, shops serviced 46.7 percent imports …

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January 7, 2016

WDs the No. 1 Choice of Independent Repair Shops for Wiper Blades for European Vehicles According to IMR Repair Shop Tracking Study

No matter the type of vehicle: domestic, Asian or European, the WD is the primary choice of independent repair shops for wiper blades. IMR’s Repair Shop Tracking study reveals that …

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January 4, 2016

According to IMR Inc.’s Repair Shop Tracking Study Almost 60 Percent of Independent Repair Shops Buy Their Sensors for European Vehicles from the WD

Six out of 10 independent repair shops purchase sensors for European vehicles from warehouse distributors, according to IMR Inc.’s Repair Shop Tracking Study. The IMR study reveals that 59.5 percent …

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December 28, 2015

IMR Repair Shop Tracking Study Reveals Independent Repair Shops Favor the WD When it Comes to Wiper Blades for Asian Vehicles

As it was with domestic vehicles, most independent repair shops turn to the WDs first for wiper blades for Asian vehicles. According to IMR Inc.’s Repair Shop Tracking Study, 62.6 …

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December 23, 2015

WDs Get Transmission Rebuild Business No Matter Type of Vehicle According to IMR Repair Shop Tracking Study

Whether it is a domestic, Asian or European vehicle, a majority of independent repair shops buy transmission rebuild kits from the warehouse distributor, according to IMR’s Repair Shop Tracking Study. …

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December 22, 2015

IMR Inc.’s Repair Shop Tracking Study Reveals Independent Repair Shops Turn to WD in Higher Numbers for Sensors for Asian Vehicles than for Domestic Vehicles

According to IMR Inc.’s Repair Shop Tracking Study, 60.3 percent of independent repair shops make the WD their first choice for purchasing sensors for Asian vehicles. In regard to domestic …

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December 16, 2015

IMR Repair Shop Tracking Study Shows Shops Prefer WD for Transmission Rebuild Kits for Asian Vehicles

As it was with domestic vehicles, independent repair shops make the WD their first choice when they are looking to buy transmission rebuild kits for Asian vehicles. According to IMR …

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December 15, 2015

Most Independent Repair Shops go to WD for Wiper Blades for Domestic Vehicles According to IMR Repair Shop Tracking Study

WDs are usually the first phone call from an independent repair shop when they are looking to buy wiper blades for domestic vehicles, according to IMR Inc.’s Repair Shop Tracking …

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December 11, 2015

IMR Inc.’s Repair Shop Tracking Study Shows Independent Repair Shops Shop Around When It Comes to Sensors for Domestic Vehicles

Unlike brake parts, filtration products and lighting for domestic vehicles, where over 60 percent of independent repair shops make the warehouse distributor their first choice when purchasing those products, independent …

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September 29, 2015

IMR Inc.’s Repair Shop Tracking Study Shows Repair Shops Call WDs First for Lighting for European Vehicles

As with domestic and Asian cars, trucks and SUVs, IMR Inc.’s Repair Shop Tracking Study reveals independent repair shops make the warehouse distributor the first choice for their lighting needs …

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IMR Research Shows WDs Overwhelming Choice of Independent Repair Shops for Lighting Products for Domestic Vehicles

As with brake parts and filtration products, IMR Inc.’s Repair Shop Tracking Study reveals that the first choice of independent repair shops for lighting products for domestic vehicles is the …

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WDs First Choice for Lighting for Asian Vehicles According to IMR Research

IMR Inc.’s Repair Shop Tracking Study shows that when purchasing lighting products for Asian vehicles, WDs are the primary source for independent repair shops 61.5 percent of the time. Retailers …

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September 8, 2015

WDs the First Call for Shops for European Vehicle Filtration Products

When looking for filtration products for European vehicles, WDs get the call two out of three times from independent repair shops. In IMR Inc.’s Repair Shop Tracking Study, 64.5 percent …

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WDs Primary Source of Filtration Products for Asian Vehicles by Independent Repair Shops

As it was with domestic vehicles, almost two-thirds of independent repair shops call their warehouse distributors first when they are looking for filtration parts for Asian vehicles. In IMR Inc.’s …

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Independent Repair Shops Look to WDs for Filtration Parts for Domestic Vehicles

IMR Inc.’s Repair Shop Tracking Study reveals that over 65 percent of independent repair shops surveyed said that when they purchase filtration parts for the domestic vehicles they service, warehouse …

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September 1, 2015

WDs get the Brake Business for European Vehicles

No matter what type of vehicle it is: domestic, Asian or European; warehouse distributors get the bulk of the business for brake parts. In the latest Repair Shop Tracking Study …

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Independent Repair Shops First Call for Asian Vehicle Brake Parts are WDs

As with domestic vehicles, WDs are the first choice of independent repair shops when it comes to brake parts for Asian vehicles. IMR Inc.’s Repair Shop Tracking Study reveals that …

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When It Comes to Domestic Vehicle Brake Parts, WDs are Top Choice for Independent Repair Shops

IMR Inc.’s Repair Shop Tracking Study shows that almost 60 percent of independent repair shops make a warehouse distributor their first call when looking for brake parts for domestic vehicles. …

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