Part Category Insights – Consumers

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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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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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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October 29, 2019

The Hispanic DIY Auto Maintenance & Repair Consumer

28.1% of the Hispanic population perform their own vehicle maintenance and repairs (DIY), compared to 23.3% of the total market. Purchases amongst the Millennial generation is also much higher relative …

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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 15, 2017

Millennial Automotive DIYers – Light Maintenance Products Consumer Profile

Millennials account for 28.7% of DIY light maintenance repair purchases. As they’ve aged, their representation in this category of products has seen a 5 year CAGR of 4.9%. The majority …

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September 10, 2017

Consumers Delaying Vehicle Routine Maintenance

In this month’s IMR Insight, we’re looking at IMR’s syndicated Delayed Vehicle Maintenance Tracking Study and specifically consumers that have delayed routine maintenance parts and services. In total, 7.9% of consumers indicate they …

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January 25, 2017

Repair Shops Make WD First Choice for Domestic Vehicle Ignition Parts According to IMR’s Repair Shop Tracking Study

When looking to purchase ignition parts for domestic vehicles, independent repair shops usually call a warehouse distributor first. According to IMR Inc.’s Repair Shop Tracking Study, 56.3 percent of repair …

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January 23, 2017

Almost 25 Percent of DIYers Do Some Research Before Purchasing Ignition Parts According to IMR Inc.’s CCAMS Study

When it comes to ignition parts, DIYers like to have some information before making a purchase. IMR Inc.’s Continuing Consumer Automotive Maintenance Survey (CCAMS) shows that 27.5 percent of those …

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August 8, 2016

When it comes to Replacing Tires; Many DIFM Customers Get the Message About Preventative Maintenance According to IMR Inc.’s CCAMS Study

DIFM customers don’t mess around and heed the preventative maintenance message when it involves tires. Almost 25 percent of DIFM customers surveyed in IMR Inc.’s Continuing Consumer Automotive Maintenance Survey …

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August 3, 2016

Almost One in Four DIFM Customers Upgraded Their Tires When it came Time to Replace Them

Almost 25 percent of DIFM customers interviewed in IMR Inc.’s Continuing Consumer Automotive Maintenance Survey (CCAMS) said when it came time to replace their tires, they looked for better performance …

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July 13, 2016

Most DIYers Head to the Store for Filtration Products

The auto parts retailer or the discount store/mass merchandiser are the preferred choice of DIYers for filtration products. According to IMR Inc.’s Continuing Consumer Automotive Maintenance Survey (CCAMS), 48.7 percent …

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July 5, 2016

DIYers Stay on Schedule When it comes to Replacing Filters

With filtration products, DIYers are very proactive, according to IMR Inc.’s Continuing Consumer Automotive Maintenance Survey (CCAMS). Over 90 percent of DIYers surveyed said they either perform preventative maintenance or …

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June 28, 2016

Preventative Maintenance Message about Oil and Filter Changes Resonates with Both DIY and DIFM Customers

Unlike most other products, where motorists are unsure when to have service performed, when it comes to filtration products, both DIYers and DIFM customers heed the preventative maintenance  message. According …

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March 28, 2016

DIYers Top Choice for Temp Control Products is Retailers but Some Shop Internet as Well According to IMR’s CCAMS Study

IMR’s Continuing Consumer Automotive Maintenance Survey (CCAMS) reveals that DIYers (34.1 percent) make the retailer their top choice when they purchase temperature control products. However, one in 10 (10.3 percent) …

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March 21, 2016

Failure No. 1 Reason for Temperature Control Service According to IMR’s CCAMS Study

A majority of both DIYers and DIFM customers cited failure as the primary reason they needed service or repair for a temperature control issue according to IMR’s Continuing Consumer Automotive …

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March 14, 2016

Lack of Performance or Failure Primary Reasons DIYers and DIFM Customers Found They Needed Temperature Control Service According to IMR’s CCAMS Study

A vehicle not performing well, an indicator light being on or the vehicle simply not working were the primary reasons both DIYers and DIFM customers found out they needed service …

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March 7, 2016

DIYers Want More Info Before Buying Temperature Control Products According to IMR Inc.’s CCAMS Study

The more complex the part, the more research DIYers do according to IMR Inc.’s Continuing Consumer Automotive Maintenance Survey (CCAMS). When it comes to temperature control products, just like ride …

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February 29, 2016

IMR CCAMS Study Reveals DIYers Using Internet to Purchase Ride Control Products

One in five ride control DIYers surveyed said they bought their parts over the internet according to IMR’s Continuing Consumer Automotive Maintenance Survey (CCAMS). Retail stores still received 34.7 percent …

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February 22, 2016

Communicating Value of Ride Control Upgrades Could Be Big Business According to IMR CCAMS Study

One in five DIYers surveyed in IMR’s Continuing Consumer Automotive Maintenance Survey (CCAMS) said the reason they performed ride control service on their vehicle was because they wanted an upgrade …

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February 15, 2016

More Marketing to Customers Could Lead to More Ride Control Business According to IMR CCAMS Study

For both DIYers and DIFM customers, the vehicle not performing well is the No. 1 reason motorists bring their vehicles in for service when it relates to ride control issues. …

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February 9, 2016

Before Purchasing Ride Control Products, Most DIYers Do Their Homework According to IMR Inc.’s CCAMS Study

When it comes to ride control products, DIYers do some type of research before making their purchasing decision. According to IMR Inc.’s Continuing Consumer Automotive Maintenance Survey (CCAMS), 56.5 percent …

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January 6, 2016

IMR CCAMS Study Reveals Retailers and Mass Merchandisers Dominate DIY Wiper Blades Market

According to IMR Inc.’s Continuing Consumer Automotive Maintenance Survey (CCAMS), auto parts retailers (45.4 percent) and mass merchandisers (41.3 percent) get a vast majority of the DIYer wiper blade business. …

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January 5, 2016

IMR Inc.’s CCAMS Study Shows Most DIYers Head to the Retailer for Sensors but Internet is Becoming more Common

According to IMR Inc.’s Continuing Consumer Automotive Maintenance Survey (CCAMS), a majority of DIYers (48.4 percent) purchase sensors directly from a retailer while 11.2 percent buy sensors over the internet. …

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December 30, 2015

IMR CCAMS Study Reveals Both DIYers and DIFM Customers Cite Preventative Maintenance as No. 1 Reason for Replacing Wiper Blades

Over 40 percent of both DIYers and DIFM customers cited preventative maintenance as the primary reason they had their wiper blades replaced, according to IMR Inc.’s Continuing Consumer Automotive Maintenance …

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December 29, 2015

According to IMR Inc.’s CCAMS Study Failure No. 1 Reason DIFM Get Sensors Replaced on Vehicles

Failure is the main reason both DIY and DIFM customers get sensors replaced on their vehicles. According to IMR Inc.’s Continuing Consumer Automotive Maintenance Survey (CCAMS), 47.2 percent of DIYers …

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December 21, 2015

DIFM Customers Shop around when it comes to Transmission Repairs According to IMR CCAMS Study

When it comes to transmission repairs, DIFM customers look around for not only the best price, but also who they think can do the best job. According to IMR’s CCAMS …

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December 18, 2015

Seasonal Maintenance Primary Reason to Replace Wiper Blades According to IMR CCAMS Study

According to IMR Inc.’s Continuing Consumer Automotive Maintenance Survey (CCAMS), both DIYers (46.4 percent) and DIFM customers (35.8 percent) cited seasonal maintenance as the primary reason they had their wiper …

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December 17, 2015

IMR Inc.’s CCAMS Study Reveals Lack of Performance Sends DIFM Customers in for Service Related to Sensors

IMR Inc.’s Continuing Consumer Automotive Maintenance Survey (CCAMS) shows that a majority of DIYers and DIFM customers wait until either the indicator light goes on or the vehicle is not …

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December 14, 2015

IMR CCAMS Study Reveals Educating Consumers about Transmissions Could Lead to Increased Business

A vast majority (84.3 percent) of DIFM customers report that failure is the primary reason they’ve had their transmission repaired. Focusing on preventative maintenance represents a great opportunity for retailers …

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December 10, 2015

CCAMS Study Shows DIYers Don’t Need Much Help When it Comes to Buying Wiper Blades

When asked in IMR Inc.’s Continuing Consumer Automotive Maintenance Survey (CCAMS) what they did first when purchasing wiper blades, 79.9 percent of DIYers said they visited the store. Only 15.4 …

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December 9, 2015

Six Out of 10 Independent Repair Shops Choose WD for Transmission Rebuild Kits for Domestic Vehicles According to IMR Repair Shop Tracking Study

Over 60 percent of independent repair shops call their WD first when it comes to purchasing transmission rebuild kits for domestic vehicles according to IMR Inc.’s Repair Shop Tracking Study. …

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December 8, 2015

IMR Inc.’s CCAMS Study Reveals DIYers May Need Some Help When Purchasing Sensors

IMR Inc.’s Continuing Consumer Automotive Maintenance Survey (CCAMS) shows that DIYers are looking for some information before buying sensors for their vehicles. According to the research, 36.8 percent called a …

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December 7, 2015

Both DIYers and DIFM Customers Wait for Failure before Servicing Transmissions According to IMR CCAMS Study

A preventative maintenance marketing strategy for transmission repairs might help shops and retailers grow their transmission repair business. According to IMR Inc.’s Continuing Consumer Automotive Maintenance Survey (CCAMS), a vast …

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September 29, 2015

According to IMR Inc. CCAMS Study Most DIYers Head to Retailers for Lighting Products

Over 60 percent of DIYers get their lighting products from an auto parts retailer according to IMR Inc.’s Continuing Consumer Automotive Maintenance Survey (CCAMS). In addition, DIYers also shop at …

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IMR Inc. CCAMS Survey Shows Failure No. 1 Reason for Lighting to be Replaced

IMR Inc.’s Continuing Consumer Automotive Maintenance Survey (CCAMS) reveals that the No. 1 reason both DIYers and DIFM customers replace the lighting on their vehicles is failure. Over 73 percent …

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IMR Study Reveals Many Variables to Why Lighting on a Vehicle is Replaced

According to IMR Inc.’s Continuing Consumer Automotive Maintenance Survey (CCAMS), there is not one major factor that brings motorists to get their lighting on their vehicle serviced. “Based on our …

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Shelves Should be Stocked with Lighting Products Because DIYers are on the Way

IMR Inc.’s Continuing Consumer Automotive Maintenance Survey (CCAMS) reveals that over 73 percent of do-it-yourselfers surveyed either visited a parts store or called a parts store before replacing the lighting …

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September 8, 2015

DIFM Customers Still Heading Back to the Dealer for Oil Changes

The new car dealer is getting a third of the oil change business from DIFM (Do-It-For-Me) consumers, according to IMR Inc.’s Continuing Consumer Automotive Maintenance Survey (CCAMS). The research also …

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Preventative Maintenance No. 1 Reason for an Oil Change Among Consumers

The preventative vehicle maintenance message is resonating with consumers, especially when it comes to getting their oil changed. IMR Inc.’s Continuing Consumer Automotive Maintenance Survey (CCAMS) reveals that over 71 …

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That Oil Change Reminder Sticker is Paying Dividends According to IMR CCAMS Survey

Almost 42 percent of DIFM (Do-It-For-Me) customers said that the reason they took their vehicle in for an oil change was because of the reminder sticker on the inside of …

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When It Comes to Oil Changes DIYers Know What They Want so be Prepared

IMR Inc.’s Continuing Consumer Automotive Maintenance Survey (CCAMS) shows that 39.7 percent of do-it-yourselfers surveyed did some research prior to making a purchase related to an oil change. Of those …

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September 1, 2015

One in Four DIFM Customers go to Independent Repair Shop for Brake Service

Almost 25 percent of Do-It-For-Me (DIFM) customers bring their vehicles to an independent repair shop to have their brakes serviced, according to a Continuing Consumer Automotive Maintenance Survey (CCAMS) conducted …

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Almost One-Third of DIY and DIFM Customers Wait until Some Brake Failure before Bringing in Vehicle for Service

IMR Inc.’s Continuing Consumer Automotive Maintenance Survey (CCAMS) reveals that 32.4 percent of DIY customers wait until there is some type of brake failure before bringing in their vehicle for …

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More Communication about Preventative Brake Maintenance May be Key to More Brake Business

Almost 45 percent of both DIFM and DIY customers wait until their brakes are not performing well before bring their vehicles in for service. IMR Inc.’s Continuing Consumer Automotive Maintenance …

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Stores Need to be Knowledgeable as DIYers Looking for Information When It Comes to Brake Jobs

IMR Inc.’s Continuing Consumer Automotive Maintenance Survey (CCAMS) shows that almost 70 percent of do-it-yourselfers surveyed either visited a parts store or called a parts store before working on their …

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