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- Key Statistics at a Glance
- Most Important Findings
- Industry Overview: Where DIY Fits in U.S. Auto Care
- DIY Market Size and Growth (2019 to 2024)
- Vehicle Age as a Core Driver of DIY Maintenance (2023 to 2024)
- What the Data Shows About DIY Adoption in 2026
- Market Trends That Shape DIY Maintenance in 2026
- Key Insights for Vehicle Owners and the Industry
- Key Takeaways
Americans still do a meaningful share of their own car maintenance, even as vehicles get more complex and professional service dominates most repair spending. The best available data does not come from a single federal “DIY maintenance” tracking series. Instead, it comes from industry measurement like the Auto Care Association’s Factbook and vehicle population data from S&P Global Mobility. Together, these sources show how big DIY maintenance is, how it is changing, and what is driving it in 2026.
Key Statistics at a Glance
- U.S. auto care industry size (2024): About $521 billion total.
- DIY vs. DIFM share (2024): DIY about 21% of auto care spending, DIFM about 79%.
- DIY market value (2024): About $58 to $62 billion.
- DIY market value (2019): About $48 billion.
- Average U.S. light vehicle age (2024): 12.6 years (up from 12.5 in 2023).
Most Important Findings
DIY remains a large, stable minority of the market. The Auto Care Association estimates DIY holds roughly 21% of total U.S. auto care spending (2024). That means most maintenance and repair dollars still go to professionals, but DIY is far from “small.” In practical terms: If you sell parts, tools, fluids, or car care products, the DIY customer is a core audience, not a niche.
The DIY market has grown in dollar terms since 2019. DIY aftermarket value rose from about $48 billion in 2019 to about $58 to $62 billion in 2024. This is not just a story about more people turning wrenches. It also reflects higher parts prices, more vehicles on the road needing service, and owners keeping older vehicles running longer.
Older vehicles are a key fuel for DIY activity. S&P Global Mobility reported the average U.S. light vehicle hit a record 12.6 years in 2024. Older vehicles tend to create more routine maintenance needs and more “small problems” owners feel comfortable handling themselves. They also raise the stakes on ownership costs, which can nudge people toward DIY for simpler tasks.
Industry Overview: Where DIY Fits in U.S. Auto Care
The best high-level picture of DIY behavior comes from how U.S. auto care spending is split between:
- DIY (Do-It-Yourself): Owners buy parts and products and do the work themselves.
- DIFM (Do-It-For-Me): Shops and service providers handle the work.
According to the Auto Care Association’s 2025 Auto Care Factbook (based on 2024 data), the U.S. auto care industry totaled about $521 billion, with DIY representing about 21% and DIFM about 79%.
That 21% share is important because it sets expectations for the real world:
- DIY is big enough to support major retail categories (filters, wiper blades, fluids, batteries, detailing products).
- DIFM is still the default for larger jobs, newer-vehicle service, and anything requiring specialized tools or programming.
DIY vs. DIFM market split (2024)
| Measure | DIY | DIFM |
|---|---|---|
| Share of U.S. auto care spending | ~21% | ~79% |
| What it usually represents | Owner-performed maintenance and small repairs | Professional service, repairs, diagnostics, programming |
| Why it matters | Large consumer-driven market for parts and products | Most dollars flow through shops, fleets, and service networks |
What this means: DIY is not disappearing. But it also is not the dominant way Americans maintain cars. For 2026 planning, it is more accurate to treat DIY as a strong secondary channel that grows or shrinks depending on vehicle age, household budgets, and the complexity of common repairs.
DIY Market Size and Growth (2019 to 2024)
The Auto Care Association estimates the DIY aftermarket was worth about $48 billion in 2019 and about $58 to $62 billion in 2024.
DIY aftermarket value trend (Auto Care Association)
| Year | Estimated DIY market value | What the change suggests |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | ~$48 billion | Large, established DIY base before major price inflation years |
| 2024 | ~$58 to $62 billion | Higher spending on DIY parts and products, driven by age, need, and costs |
What this means: Even if the percentage of people doing DIY work stayed flat, the dollars can still rise when parts and supplies cost more and when more vehicles need maintenance.
Why it matters: A growing dollar market is good for availability. It supports wider parts selection, more private-label options, more tool and consumable categories, and more educational content targeted at beginners.
Practical implications for owners: When DIY demand stays strong, retailers tend to stock more “common job” items. But it can also mean price pressure, especially in categories where demand is steady and replacement is not optional (like batteries, bulbs, filters, and fluids).
Vehicle Age as a Core Driver of DIY Maintenance (2023 to 2024)
S&P Global Mobility reported a record average vehicle age of 12.6 years in 2024, up from 12.5 years in 2023. That one-tenth of a year may look small, but it matters because it signals the overall fleet is not “refreshing” quickly.
Average light vehicle age in the U.S. (S&P Global Mobility)
| Year | Average vehicle age | Why it matters for DIY |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 12.5 years | Older fleet already supports a steady maintenance workload |
| 2024 | 12.6 years (record) | More owners face age-related wear items and cost decision points |
What this means: The “average car” on the road is well into the part of its life where maintenance feels more frequent. Owners may see more minor issues (leaks, sensors, ignition wear, rubber aging) that are not always worth a shop visit on an older daily driver.
Why it matters: An aging fleet creates steady demand for service overall, but it also creates more opportunities for DIY, especially where the job is simple or the owner is trying to control ownership costs.
Practical implications for car owners and DIYers in 2026:
- More people will face “keep it running” decisions. That can push owners toward DIY for basic upkeep.
- Older vehicles can be easier for certain DIY work (more space, fewer calibrations), but they can also bring rust, seized fasteners, and previous repairs that make jobs harder.
- Diagnosis often matters more than the repair itself. Many owners can replace a part, but confirming the right part is the real challenge on high-mile vehicles.
What the Data Shows About DIY Adoption in 2026
Because there is no single government data series tracking DIY maintenance behavior, 2026 “adoption” is best viewed through two measurable signals:
- DIY spending share: About 21% of auto care spending in 2024.
- DIY spending level: About $58 to $62 billion in 2024.
These signal a DIY culture that is still very present, but operating alongside a larger professional service economy. In plain terms: Many Americans still do at least some of their own maintenance, but most total dollars are spent at shops.
What this suggests for 2026: DIY is most likely to grow when owners feel squeezed by costs and when vehicles age. It is most likely to shrink when repairs require programming, calibrations, or specialized diagnostics that push work into the shop channel.
Market Trends That Shape DIY Maintenance in 2026
1) DIY is not the majority, but it is too large to ignore
A 21% DIY share inside a $521 billion industry is a major consumer segment. The DIY market also connects strongly to non-repair categories like appearance care and small upgrades. For example, many owners who do their own maintenance also take on low-risk exterior projects such as a DIY car clay bar treatment.
Practical implication: If you are tracking DIY trends, do not only focus on “repairs.” A lot of DIY activity sits in maintenance and car care products, where the barrier to entry is lower.
2) Dollar growth does not automatically mean more DIY people
The rise from ~$48 billion (2019) to ~$58 to $62 billion (2024) is real growth. But it can come from:
- Higher unit prices for parts, supplies, and fluids
- More repairs and maintenance per vehicle as the fleet ages
- More total vehicles staying in service longer
Why it matters: When you read “DIY is growing,” it is important to ask: Is it more households doing DIY, or the same households spending more? This distinction affects retailers, tool brands, and content creators differently.
3) Older vehicles create more “small DIY moments”
A record 12.6-year average vehicle age supports more frequent upkeep. Many owners start with smaller tasks and expand as confidence grows. It often begins when they face common, easy-to-understand problems, such as an oil spot after parking. Pages like Engine oil leaking under car reflect the kind of issue that can trigger a DIY decision: Diagnose it yourself first, then decide whether it is a driveway fix or a shop job.
Practical implication: As vehicles age, “diagnosis-driven DIY” becomes more common. Owners want to understand what’s happening, even if they do not complete the repair themselves.
Key Insights for Vehicle Owners and the Industry
DIY maintenance is a cost-control tool, not just a hobby
The market structure tells the story. DIFM dominates spending, but DIY remains significant because it helps owners manage costs. On an older car, avoiding even a few shop visits per year can change the total cost of ownership outlook.
DIY demand supports a large retail ecosystem
A $58 to $62 billion DIY segment creates real product availability. It also supports beginner-focused education and simplified kits. That said, DIYers still run into “modern car” barriers on some jobs, especially those tied to electronics and emissions systems. When warning lights appear, many owners start by learning what the codes commonly point to before deciding on the next step. A guide like check engine light common causes is a good example of the educational layer around DIY behavior.
Expect DIY to stay resilient as the fleet remains old
The record 12.6-year average vehicle age is the strongest indicator in this dataset for future DIY relevance. Older cars do not just need more work. They also push owners toward more decisions: Fix it, defer it, do it yourself, or pay a shop.
DIY and professional repair often work together
The 21% DIY share does not mean DIYers avoid shops. In many cases, owners split tasks: They handle basics, then pay for alignment, programming, specialized diagnostics, or safety-critical work.
In 2026, this “hybrid” ownership style is likely common. It is also reflected in the way people learn about failure symptoms before spending money. For example, understanding spark plug failures explained can help an owner decide whether a rough-running engine is a simple tune-up situation or something that needs deeper diagnosis.
Key Takeaways
- DIY is a sizable part of U.S. auto care: About 21% of auto care spending in 2024 came from DIY work, versus 79% DIFM (Auto Care Association).
- DIY dollars have grown since 2019: The DIY segment rose from about $48 billion (2019) to about $58 to $62 billion (2024), showing a larger consumer spend on DIY parts and products.
- Vehicle age supports DIY relevance: The average U.S. light vehicle reached a record 12.6 years in 2024 (S&P Global Mobility). Older vehicles tend to increase maintenance needs and cost sensitivity.
- DIY growth is not only about more people: Higher prices and an older fleet can raise DIY spending even if participation rates are steady.
- For 2026, DIY looks resilient: With an aging fleet and continued cost pressure, many Americans will keep doing at least some maintenance themselves, while relying on shops for complex and safety-critical work.
