Toronto, Ontario -- A new survey from J.D. Power shows Canadian drivers are holding on to vehicles longer, fuelling record demand for auto service and repairs.
The 2025 Canada customer service index—long-term (CSI-LT) study found the average number of annual dealership service visits for vehicles aged 4 to 12 years has climbed to 1.8, up from 1.5 in 2022. Aftermarket facilities also saw growth, with annual visits rising to 1.5 from 1.3 in 2024.
“The auto service market in Canada is experiencing unprecedented growth, with revenue estimated at $18.8 billion, thanks to a combination of macroeconomic factors that are leading to stagnation in new light-vehicle sales and driving up maintenance and repair costs,” said J.D. Ney, automotive practice lead at J.D. Power Canada.
Repair visits accounted for a larger share of business at both dealerships and aftermarket shops. Dealerships saw a six-point increase year over year, now handling 46 per cent of visits, while aftermarket shops rose three points to 27 percent.
The average per-visit cost at dealerships rose to $539 in 2025, nearly 80 per cent higher than the $302 average in the aftermarket sector. Two-thirds of vehicle owners who chose aftermarket service cited high dealership costs as the main reason.
Dealerships continue to capture 62 per cent of market revenue, compared with 38 per cent for the aftermarket. Mercedes-Benz dealerships ranked highest in customer satisfaction among dealerships, while Great Canadian Oil Change topped aftermarket providers.
The study was based on responses from 9,999 owners between March and June 2025.
