Drivers Are Looking for Savings at Independent Repair Shops

The Automotive Industries Association of Canada (AIA) recently published a report in which over 2,200 Canadian drivers expressed their preferences regarding automotive maintenance.

We reached out to Shamsia Quraishi, Manager of Research and Governance for AIA Canada, to see if provincial results could be drawn from this survey. Quraishi specified that only compiled national results were used for this study to simplify presentation. Quraishi was kind enough, however, to extract certain data regarding DIY mechanics who perform their own automotive maintenance work.

This percentage remains relatively high in the country. With the Canadian fleet nearing an average age of 11 years, it remains practical for weekend mechanics to perform select maintenance tasks. Overall, 50% of Canadians entrust all their maintenance work to a repair shop or a dealership. As Quraishi notes, the further west you go, the more drivers take care of their own cars, up to British Columbia, where this percentage drops back down to 10%.

Diving deeper into the data, Manitoba and Saskatchewan boast the highest proportion of motorists doing all their own maintenance at home (20.2%), twice the rate reported in Quebec and the Atlantic provinces. Notably, this work mainly revolves around seasonal tire changeovers, oil changes, and occasionally brake pad replacements.

Standing out

The vast majority of Canadians therefore entrust their cars to repair shops for maintenance. The AIA Canada survey reveals that, among those using these services, 27% go exclusively to their dealership, 23% visit independent repair shops only, while 50% use both types of service providers for the maintenance and repair of their vehicle.

As for what drives that choice, a recommendation from a friend or family member remains the leading factor, followed by price, location, and online reviews. 

When looking strictly at independent repair shops, however, price takes center stage. According to the study, motorists who deal exclusively with these garages do so for better value for their dollar (41%), lower costs compared to pricey dealerships (21%), and the confidence of dealing with a reliable, trustworthy team (11%).

Researchers also asked Canadian motorists what would prompt them to visit independent shops more often. The leading incentive was having a dedicated technician assigned to their vehicle, allowing customers to build a relationship with the person turning the wrenches. Prospective clients also expressed an interest in clearer explanations of the repairs needed, along with a structured short-, medium-, and long-term maintenance plan.

Overcoming consumer hesitation also means proving technical competence. Some facilities display their technicians’ credentials and training certificates near their posted rates, a practice backed by the data: roughly half of motorists still assume dealership techs receive superior training.

AIA Canada members can access this report free of charge here