09/17/2025

Shift from technician to DIY vehicle maintenance continues to grow

Source: aftermarket MATTERS

TOPDON has released the results of its new report conducted with global data and business intelligence platform, Statista, which reveals an increasing shift toward DIY vehicle repair.

The report, titled “The State of DIY: How Home Diagnostic Tools Can Empower Car Owners,” surveyed 2,800 vehicle owners in North America and the U.K. It explores the motivations behind this shift and identifies knowledge gaps that still hinder wider adoption of DIY maintenance.

“With rising repair costs and greater interest in independence, car owners are getting more involved in vehicle care,” said Mike Zhou, founder of TOPDON. “Online training and more accessible information are making DIY repairs easier than ever.”

Survey results show that 97% of current consumer diagnostic tool users can now spot issues faster, 94% have a better understanding of their vehicles, and 93% have avoided unnecessary technician visits. However, 67% of all respondents cited lack of knowledge as a major barrier to tackling repairs themselves.

A separate study from Circana also notes that the U.S. consumer is looking ways to stretch their spending, which presents a range of opportunities for the retail automotive aftermarket. Vehicles on the road in the U.S. are aging as consumers continue to avoid the rising price tag associated with a new, or newer used, car.

Recent data reveals that aftermarket consumers are taking on both do-it-yourself (DIY) and trade-down behaviors when it comes to their automobile maintenance and repairs.

“There are 20 million more vehicles in the aftermarket ‘sweet spot’ — those beyond their original warranty — than there were in 2020,” said Nathan Shipley, automotive industry analyst for Circana. “Older cars mean more maintenance activity, but the cost of that maintenance can add up fast, leading consumers to find ways to save, including taking on some of it themselves.”

Higher-income households, earning $100K or more annually, have driven the largest growth in the DIY retail aftermarket in recent years. Initially, this trend stemmed from increased free time during the pandemic, as consumers undertook their own maintenance or worked on personal projects like cars, boats, and ATVs.

More recently, the growth reflects a shift from do-it-for-me (DIFM) to DIY. According to a February 2025 Circana consumer survey, 29% of consumers reported switching from having a professional change their automobile’s oil to doing it themselves to save money. Retail sales are reflecting this behavior, with motor oil and filters growing in unit sales demand for the past two years.