How tariffs are affecting repair shops

At the start of President Trump's 25% tariffs on imported parts and components, IMR, a leader in automotive aftermarket research, conducted a survey to gauge the effects on the vehicle repair sector. According to the April 2025 survey of 500 general repair shops conducted, about two out of five (38.6%) reported some sort of impact from the tariffs.

Cost effects were the most prevalent issue, affecting 38% overall. Shops with 8 or more bays were most affected, with nearly nearly three-quarters (73.7%) noting an impact. About 45% of shops with 4-7 bays cited a cost impact, while smaller shops were at 16%. At the time, only about 1% of shops said tariffs were hindering parts availability or customer demand.

If any business sees its expenses rise, it typically passes those increases to the customer, and that is no different here. About 70% of 8+ bay shops raised product prices, while 45.4% of 4-7 bay shops and 16.6% of 1-3 bay shops did. Overall, 2.6% absorbed the price hit themsleves and did not raise prices.

An infintessimal 0.4% said the price changes lost them a customer.

Impact of tariffs on independent repair shops by size

Supply chain challenges

26% of shops reported supply chain effects, with higher shipping costs impacting 20%—a notable 63% among shops with eight or more bays, 21% for four to seven bays, and 5.5% for one to three bays. Part shortages affected 2%, and 3% were impacted by shifts in customer purchasing behavior, with larger shops that have four to seven bays feeling these effects more (4% for both, respectively). The majority (73%) reported no supply chain issues, with smaller shops with one to three bays at 88%.

Additional insights

Shop size seems to be a large factor in data disparities: larger shops with eight or more bays were hit hardest, with 74% facing operational costs, 70% adjusting prices, and 63% dealing with shipping costs. Smaller shops with one to three bays showed resilience, with 81% and 88% reporting no impact on operations and supply chains, respectively. These findings suggest tariffs may disproportionately challenge larger operations with greater part volumes. Alternatively, larger shops may simply be more aware of pricing impacts based on volume and reporting practices.