Market rankings · California
Auto repair and car care businesses in California
Markets across California ranked by the Groundwork market score for auto repair and car care businesses, with competitor counts and household spending for each.
- Listings
- 52,949
- 9,804 chain locations (19%)
- Official establishments
- 22,083
- +3.3% since 2019
- Household spending a year
- $15.2B
- On vehicle maintenance and repairs
- Listings per 10k households
- 39.1
- 10% above the U.S.
- Spending per listing
- $287K
- 7% above the U.S.
- Rank among states
- #30 of 51
- Market score 46 · Lower middle
A site report maps the auto repair and car care businesses on map listings around any address in California by name and distance, and the spending within reach.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
As of September 2026, map listings count 52,949 auto repair and car care businesses in California. Chain locations make up 19% of them, against 24% across the U.S. Per 10,000 households, that is 39.1, 10% above the U.S. rate of 35.7.
Household spending on vehicle maintenance and repairs in California comes to about $15.2B a year: $1,122 per household, 17% above the U.S. average. That works out to $287K per business, 7% above the U.S. figure of $269K.
The official count of businesses with payroll classed as automotive repair and maintenance, and tire dealers in California was 22,083 in 2023, up 3.3% from 2019. That is one for every 614 households, against one for every 681 across the U.S. Across the U.S., the count rose 4.1% over the same years. Since fiscal 2022, 1,305 SBA-backed loans worth $1B have gone to businesses classed as automotive repair and maintenance, and tire dealers in California.
Among the 50 states and DC, California ranks #30 for auto repair and car care businesses, with a Groundwork market score of 46 (lower middle). Of the 25 scored metro areas in or partly in California, the Merced metro area scores highest (75). Of the 10 scored small-town markets in or partly in California, the Gardnerville Ranchos area scores highest (76).
Every market in California for auto repair and car care businesses
Download the ranking (CSV)Numbered by Groundwork market score among the markets based in California, highest first; the U.S. rank compares each market with every other of its kind. A metro area that crosses a state line is listed in each state it reaches, and numbered only in the state its page is under. How the score works.
Metro areas
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Merced, CA | 75 | 282 | 32.8 | $339K | +5.1% | #26 of 387 |
| 2Napa, CA | 69 | 134 | 26.9 | $449K | −3.3% | #58 of 387 |
| 3San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 68 | 2,208 | 32.5 | $374K | −0.6% | #64 of 387 |
| 4Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | 64 | 299 | 30.9 | $399K | −4.7% | #85 of 387 |
| 5Vallejo, CA | 64 | 575 | 36.5 | $338K | +0.6% | #88 of 387 |
| 6San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | 64 | 394 | 36.0 | $333K | 0.0% | #89 of 387 |
| 7Stockton-Lodi, CA | 64 | 1,006 | 41.0 | $298K | +5.5% | #91 of 387 |
| 8San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 61 | 5,173 | 29.7 | $351K | −2.4% | #109 of 387 |
| 9Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 61 | 3,281 | 37.2 | $302K | +3.2% | #114 of 387 |
| 10Yuba City, CA | 60 | 242 | 39.1 | $298K | +3.3% | #122 of 387 |
| 11Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | 59 | 646 | 33.8 | $350K | −0.4% | #128 of 387 |
| 12Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | 57 | 511 | 34.2 | $337K | −1.4% | #140 of 387 |
| 13Salinas, CA | 52 | 511 | 38.6 | $315K | −1.5% | #188 of 387 |
| 14San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 52 | 4,514 | 38.5 | $293K | −0.6% | #190 of 387 |
| 15Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 52 | 6,808 | 46.9 | $263K | +3.5% | #192 of 387 |
| 16Visalia, CA | 49 | 624 | 43.6 | $266K | +2.4% | #209 of 387 |
| 17Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | 48 | 1,224 | 43.7 | $286K | −1.5% | #218 of 387 |
| 18Fresno, CA | 47 | 1,615 | 43.6 | $252K | +3.2% | #232 of 387 |
| 19Hanford-Corcoran, CA | 43 | 190 | 43.1 | $252K | +1.0% | #254 of 387 |
| 20Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 42 | 18,510 | 41.1 | $262K | −2.6% | #258 of 387 |
| 21Bakersfield-Delano, CA | 40 | 1,283 | 45.0 | $239K | +2.3% | #273 of 387 |
| 22Chico, CA | 39 | 342 | 41.1 | $253K | −0.5% | #280 of 387 |
| 23Modesto, CA | 39 | 838 | 47.1 | $251K | +0.7% | #281 of 387 |
| 24El Centro, CA | 30 | 257 | 51.8 | $201K | +1.1% | #331 of 387 |
| 25Redding, CA | 27 | 350 | 49.1 | $221K | −0.3% | #342 of 387 |
Small-town markets
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gardnerville Ranchos, NV-CA | 76 | 62 | 28.5 | $441K | +0.9% | #37 of 538 |
| 1Crescent City, CA | 70 | 22 | 23.1 | $446K | −4.4% | #78 of 538 |
| 2Clearlake, CA | 70 | 93 | 34.5 | $327K | −0.6% | #80 of 538 |
| 3Truckee-Grass Valley, CA | 67 | 163 | 38.0 | $313K | −0.4% | #104 of 538 |
| 4Susanville, CA | 63 | 29 | 31.4 | $347K | −13.1% | #146 of 538 |
| 5Sonora, CA | 61 | 85 | 37.5 | $305K | −4.0% | #167 of 538 |
| 6Red Bluff, CA | 61 | 90 | 36.3 | $296K | −1.7% | #168 of 538 |
| 7Eureka-Arcata, CA | 53 | 165 | 30.0 | $330K | −3.4% | #232 of 538 |
| 8Bishop, CA | 47 | 30 | 37.3 | $286K | −4.4% | #298 of 538 |
| 9Ukiah, CA | 46 | 126 | 36.2 | $290K | −3.5% | #311 of 538 |
Counties
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Yuba County, CA | 87 | 71 | 24.8 | $460K | +8.2% | #35 of 2,401 |
| 2Calaveras County, CA | 86 | 48 | 26.0 | $503K | +2.8% | #43 of 2,401 |
| 3Mariposa County, CA | 79 | 11 | 14.7 | $784K | −1.2% | #133 of 2,401 |
| 4Placer County, CA | 79 | 527 | 33.4 | $362K | +8.9% | #147 of 2,401 |
| 5San Benito County, CA | 77 | 74 | 36.0 | $402K | +8.6% | #181 of 2,401 |
| 6Contra Costa County, CA | 74 | 1,156 | 27.9 | $438K | +0.3% | #242 of 2,401 |
| 7Trinity County, CA | 71 | 9 | 16.1 | $642K | −2.3% | #328 of 2,401 |
| 8El Dorado County, CA | 71 | 214 | 28.1 | $457K | +0.6% | #329 of 2,401 |
| 9Merced County, CA | 71 | 282 | 32.8 | $339K | +5.1% | #339 of 2,401 |
| 10Mono County, CA | 68 | 12 | 20.9 | $557K | −5.4% | #408 of 2,401 |
| 11Napa County, CA | 67 | 134 | 26.9 | $449K | −3.3% | #447 of 2,401 |
| 12Del Norte County, CA | 67 | 22 | 23.1 | $446K | −4.4% | #448 of 2,401 |
| 13Santa Clara County, CA | 66 | 2,134 | 32.4 | $373K | −0.9% | #491 of 2,401 |
| 14Riverside County, CA | 66 | 3,224 | 41.6 | $298K | +5.0% | #509 of 2,401 |
| 15Amador County, CA | 65 | 56 | 34.8 | $344K | +3.2% | #525 of 2,401 |
| 16San Joaquin County, CA | 64 | 1,006 | 41.0 | $298K | +5.5% | #584 of 2,401 |
| 17Madera County, CA | 64 | 192 | 42.3 | $285K | +7.4% | #591 of 2,401 |
| 18Solano County, CA | 63 | 575 | 36.5 | $338K | +0.6% | #614 of 2,401 |
| 19San Luis Obispo County, CA | 63 | 394 | 36.0 | $333K | 0.0% | #615 of 2,401 |
| 20Santa Cruz County, CA | 62 | 299 | 30.9 | $399K | −4.7% | #646 of 2,401 |
| 21Lake County, CA | 62 | 93 | 34.5 | $327K | −0.6% | #658 of 2,401 |
| 22Sonoma County, CA | 59 | 646 | 33.8 | $350K | −0.4% | #769 of 2,401 |
| 23Nevada County, CA | 58 | 163 | 38.0 | $313K | −0.4% | #828 of 2,401 |
| 24San Francisco County, CA | 57 | 554 | 15.2 | $430K | −5.6% | #864 of 2,401 |
| 25Lassen County, CA | 57 | 29 | 31.4 | $347K | −13.1% | #867 of 2,401 |
Show all 58 counties
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26Santa Barbara County, CA | 57 | 511 | 34.2 | $337K | −1.4% | #869 of 2,401 |
| 27Colusa County, CA | 57 | 33 | 43.9 | $275K | −0.1% | #888 of 2,401 |
| 28Marin County, CA | 55 | 336 | 32.6 | $349K | −2.9% | #955 of 2,401 |
| 29San Diego County, CA | 54 | 4,514 | 38.5 | $293K | −0.6% | #1,028 of 2,401 |
| 30Monterey County, CA | 53 | 511 | 38.6 | $315K | −1.5% | #1,066 of 2,401 |
| 31Tuolumne County, CA | 53 | 85 | 37.5 | $305K | −4.0% | #1,070 of 2,401 |
| 32Tehama County, CA | 53 | 90 | 36.3 | $296K | −1.7% | #1,074 of 2,401 |
| 33Yolo County, CA | 53 | 291 | 37.9 | $288K | +3.1% | #1,081 of 2,401 |
| 34Sacramento County, CA | 53 | 2,249 | 39.4 | $275K | +2.0% | #1,088 of 2,401 |
| 35Glenn County, CA | 52 | 46 | 46.9 | $244K | −2.6% | #1,150 of 2,401 |
| 36San Mateo County, CA | 51 | 1,035 | 39.1 | $307K | −2.5% | #1,166 of 2,401 |
| 37Ventura County, CA | 51 | 1,224 | 43.7 | $286K | −1.5% | #1,174 of 2,401 |
| 38Tulare County, CA | 51 | 624 | 43.6 | $266K | +2.4% | #1,187 of 2,401 |
| 39Alameda County, CA | 49 | 2,092 | 35.0 | $305K | −2.6% | #1,258 of 2,401 |
| 40Orange County, CA | 48 | 4,858 | 44.9 | $267K | −1.1% | #1,302 of 2,401 |
| 41Humboldt County, CA | 47 | 165 | 30.0 | $330K | −3.4% | #1,321 of 2,401 |
| 42Fresno County, CA | 47 | 1,423 | 43.8 | $247K | +2.6% | #1,339 of 2,401 |
| 43Kings County, CA | 46 | 190 | 43.1 | $252K | +1.0% | #1,387 of 2,401 |
| 44Kern County, CA | 45 | 1,283 | 45.0 | $239K | +2.3% | #1,431 of 2,401 |
| 45Siskiyou County, CA | 44 | 71 | 37.2 | $286K | −4.5% | #1,453 of 2,401 |
| 46Butte County, CA | 43 | 342 | 41.1 | $253K | −0.5% | #1,507 of 2,401 |
| 47Stanislaus County, CA | 43 | 838 | 47.1 | $251K | +0.7% | #1,508 of 2,401 |
| 48San Bernardino County, CA | 43 | 3,584 | 53.1 | $231K | +1.9% | #1,516 of 2,401 |
| 49Los Angeles County, CA | 42 | 13,652 | 40.0 | $260K | −3.0% | #1,546 of 2,401 |
| 50Plumas County, CA | 41 | 29 | 36.0 | $290K | −5.9% | #1,590 of 2,401 |
| 51Inyo County, CA | 41 | 30 | 37.3 | $286K | −4.4% | #1,591 of 2,401 |
| 52Mendocino County, CA | 40 | 126 | 36.2 | $290K | −3.5% | #1,646 of 2,401 |
| 53Sutter County, CA | 35 | 171 | 51.4 | $230K | −0.7% | #1,839 of 2,401 |
| 54Imperial County, CA | 35 | 257 | 51.8 | $201K | +1.1% | #1,859 of 2,401 |
| 55Shasta County, CA | 32 | 350 | 49.1 | $221K | −0.3% | #1,953 of 2,401 |
| Modoc County, CA | Not scored | 14 | 42.9 | $258K | −2.9% | |
| Sierra County, CA | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | −4.0% | |
| Alpine County, CA | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | −11.6% |
Markets with fewer than 5 auto repair and car care businesses on map listings, and counties under 10,000 people, aren’t scored; they’re listed last in each table.
Questions
How many auto repair and car care businesses are in California?
California has 52,949 auto repair and car care businesses on map listings as of September 2026. 9,804 of them (19%) are chain locations. The listings count repair shops, body shops, tire shops, car washes, oil change and parts stores. Official counts show 22,083 businesses with payroll classed as automotive repair and maintenance, and tire dealers in 2023, up 3.3% from 2019. Official counts also show 39,545 one-person businesses without payroll.
How much do households in California spend on vehicle maintenance and repairs?
About $15.2B a year, or $1,122 per household. That is 17% above the U.S. average (an index of 117, where 100 is the U.S. average). Spread across the 52,949 auto repair and car care businesses on map listings, it comes to $287K per business. It is estimated from the incomes of the 13,548,091 households in California and national spending patterns by income.
How does California compare with the U.S. for auto repair and car care businesses?
California has 39.1 auto repair and car care businesses per 10,000 households, 10% above the U.S. rate of 35.7. Spending per business is $287K, 7% above the U.S. figure of $269K. At the national ratio of auto repair and car care businesses to household spending, California would have about 56,592, against 52,949 on map listings. There is one business with payroll in the industry for every 614 households, against one for every 681 across the U.S. The official count rose 3.3% from 2019 to 2023, against +4.1% for the U.S.
Which market in California has the highest market score for auto repair and car care businesses?
Among 25 scored metro areas in or partly in California, the Merced metro area scores highest, at 75 (high). Among 10 scored small-town markets in or partly in California, the Gardnerville Ranchos area scores highest, at 76 (high). Among 55 scored counties in California, Yuba County scores highest, at 87 (high). Scores compare each market with others of its kind across the U.S.
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. California scores 46 for auto repair and car care businesses (lower middle), #30 of the 50 states and DC.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in California. It maps the auto repair and car care businesses on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
Auto repair and car care in other states
All 51 states
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- Texas
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- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
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Top markets for auto repair and car care businesses across the U.S. · All business types in California
Related business types in California
- Auto repair shops33,404 listings
- Collision repair and body shops5,166 listings
- Car washes and detailing4,444 listings
- Tire shops5,228 listings
- Oil change and quick lube759 listings
- Gas stations10,937 listings
- Insurance agencies23,237 listings
Screening a site or an acquisition in California?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.