Market rankings · Michigan
Auto repair and car care businesses in Michigan
Markets across Michigan ranked by the Groundwork market score for auto repair and car care businesses, with competitor counts and household spending for each.
- Listings
- 14,563
- 3,337 chain locations (23%)
- Official establishments
- 6,336
- +3.9% since 2019
- Household spending a year
- $4.2B
- On vehicle maintenance and repairs
- Listings per 10k households
- 35.7
- In line with the U.S.
- Spending per listing
- $286K
- 6% above the U.S.
- Rank among states
- #32 of 51
- Market score 45 · Lower middle
A site report maps the auto repair and car care businesses on map listings around any address in Michigan 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
Map listings as of September 2026 show 14,563 auto repair and car care businesses in Michigan. 3,337 of them (23%) are chain locations, against 24% across the U.S. That comes to 35.7 for every 10,000 households, in line with the U.S. rate of 35.7.
At $1,022 per household (7% above the U.S. average), households in Michigan spend about $4.2B a year on vehicle maintenance and repairs. Spread across 14,563 auto repair and car care businesses, that is $286K per business, 6% above the U.S. figure of $269K.
In 2023, official counts showed 6,336 businesses with payroll in Michigan classed as automotive repair and maintenance, and tire dealers, up 3.9% from 2019. That is one for every 643 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, 347 SBA-backed loans worth $149.9M have gone to businesses classed as automotive repair and maintenance, and tire dealers in Michigan.
Among the 50 states and DC, Michigan ranks #32 for auto repair and car care businesses, with a Groundwork market score of 45 (lower middle). Of the 16 scored metro areas in or partly in Michigan, the Monroe metro area scores highest (78). Of the 19 scored small-town markets in or partly in Michigan, the Big Rapids area scores highest (73).
Every market in Michigan for auto repair and car care businesses
Download the ranking (CSV)Numbered by Groundwork market score among the markets based in Michigan, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Monroe, MI | 78 | 192 | 30.5 | $368K | +0.7% | #19 of 387 |
| 2Ann Arbor, MI | 75 | 342 | 22.7 | $450K | −0.4% | #24 of 387 |
| 3Lansing-East Lansing, MI | 68 | 607 | 31.3 | $321K | +1.4% | #68 of 387 |
| South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | 64 | 409 | 31.8 | $316K | +0.1% | #90 of 387 |
| 4Jackson, MI | 62 | 220 | 35.2 | $290K | −0.4% | #105 of 387 |
| 5Midland, MI | 59 | 123 | 35.1 | $313K | +0.3% | #129 of 387 |
| 6Kalamazoo-Portage, MI | 56 | 355 | 33.1 | $307K | +0.8% | #151 of 387 |
| 7Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI | 54 | 264 | 39.0 | $259K | +1.8% | #172 of 387 |
| 8Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | 53 | 1,716 | 39.0 | $282K | +2.8% | #180 of 387 |
| 9Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 49 | 5,999 | 33.9 | $293K | +0.1% | #207 of 387 |
| 10Bay City, MI | 44 | 167 | 37.0 | $270K | −1.6% | #246 of 387 |
| 11Flint, MI | 44 | 614 | 36.7 | $267K | −1.1% | #247 of 387 |
| 12Niles, MI | 44 | 247 | 38.6 | $259K | −1.3% | #248 of 387 |
| 13Traverse City, MI | 42 | 285 | 43.6 | $254K | +2.2% | #260 of 387 |
| 14Saginaw, MI | 37 | 294 | 37.7 | $265K | −1.1% | #291 of 387 |
| 15Battle Creek, MI | 27 | 226 | 42.4 | $231K | −0.6% | #341 of 387 |
Small-town markets
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Big Rapids, MI | 73 | 58 | 34.7 | $303K | +4.7% | #62 of 538 |
| 2Hillsdale, MI | 72 | 68 | 38.1 | $286K | 0.0% | #68 of 538 |
| 3Marquette, MI | 67 | 99 | 35.0 | $292K | +2.3% | #107 of 538 |
| 4Holland, MI | 65 | 189 | 41.5 | $288K | +2.1% | #121 of 538 |
| 5Owosso, MI | 64 | 105 | 37.3 | $295K | −0.4% | #133 of 538 |
| Marinette, WI-MI | 62 | 113 | 38.4 | $278K | +0.3% | #161 of 538 |
| 6Adrian, MI | 60 | 149 | 38.3 | $286K | −1.6% | #177 of 538 |
| 7Houghton, MI | 58 | 54 | 35.0 | $292K | +1.8% | #193 of 538 |
| 8Ludington, MI | 52 | 54 | 42.2 | $245K | 0.0% | #248 of 538 |
| 9Petoskey, MI | 50 | 59 | 38.8 | $285K | −1.0% | #268 of 538 |
| 10Coldwater, MI | 48 | 77 | 45.5 | $225K | +2.5% | #291 of 538 |
| 11Mount Pleasant, MI | 46 | 103 | 41.3 | $241K | +0.3% | #313 of 538 |
| 12Alma, MI | 45 | 73 | 49.4 | $218K | −1.1% | #327 of 538 |
| 13Sturgis, MI | 44 | 108 | 45.7 | $231K | +0.1% | #333 of 538 |
| 14Escanaba, MI | 42 | 59 | 36.9 | $263K | −0.8% | #346 of 538 |
| 15Cadillac, MI | 31 | 114 | 58.1 | $179K | +2.0% | #448 of 538 |
| 16Iron Mountain, MI-WI | 26 | 73 | 51.8 | $191K | +0.4% | #480 of 538 |
| 17Sault Ste. Marie, MI | 26 | 71 | 50.4 | $190K | −1.9% | #481 of 538 |
| 18Alpena, MI | 18 | 74 | 56.8 | $162K | −0.1% | #516 of 538 |
Counties
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Leelanau County, MI | 88 | 19 | 19.7 | $627K | +3.0% | #28 of 2,401 |
| 2Alcona County, MI | 83 | 9 | 17.0 | $591K | +3.7% | #75 of 2,401 |
| 3Lake County, MI | 82 | 6 | 11.6 | $809K | +9.1% | #89 of 2,401 |
| 4Benzie County, MI | 80 | 27 | 35.0 | $326K | +3.1% | #132 of 2,401 |
| 5Antrim County, MI | 76 | 26 | 23.4 | $467K | +5.3% | #195 of 2,401 |
| 6Livingston County, MI | 76 | 226 | 29.6 | $423K | +1.7% | #197 of 2,401 |
| 7Cass County, MI | 75 | 55 | 25.9 | $442K | +0.2% | #221 of 2,401 |
| 8Clinton County, MI | 75 | 91 | 28.8 | $417K | +1.6% | #222 of 2,401 |
| 9Washtenaw County, MI | 72 | 342 | 22.7 | $450K | −0.4% | #290 of 2,401 |
| 10Monroe County, MI | 72 | 192 | 30.5 | $368K | +0.7% | #295 of 2,401 |
| 11Barry County, MI | 71 | 89 | 36.4 | $331K | +2.2% | #340 of 2,401 |
| 12Oakland County, MI | 66 | 1,674 | 31.6 | $339K | +1.2% | #499 of 2,401 |
| 13Menominee County, MI | 65 | 27 | 26.1 | $389K | −2.2% | #520 of 2,401 |
| 14Gladwin County, MI | 65 | 37 | 32.8 | $306K | +2.8% | #535 of 2,401 |
| 15Van Buren County, MI | 65 | 109 | 35.6 | $305K | +0.7% | #536 of 2,401 |
| 16Newaygo County, MI | 65 | 73 | 37.1 | $302K | +3.1% | #537 of 2,401 |
| 17St. Clair County, MI | 64 | 226 | 33.3 | $321K | +0.1% | #572 of 2,401 |
| 18Mecosta County, MI | 64 | 58 | 34.7 | $303K | +4.7% | #580 of 2,401 |
| 19Hillsdale County, MI | 64 | 68 | 38.1 | $286K | 0.0% | #590 of 2,401 |
| 20Eaton County, MI | 63 | 147 | 32.4 | $330K | +0.4% | #617 of 2,401 |
| 21Lapeer County, MI | 62 | 144 | 41.3 | $287K | +1.0% | #673 of 2,401 |
| 22Midland County, MI | 59 | 123 | 35.1 | $313K | +0.3% | #782 of 2,401 |
| 23Ottawa County, MI | 59 | 451 | 40.5 | $291K | +3.9% | #794 of 2,401 |
| 24Tuscola County, MI | 59 | 89 | 41.4 | $264K | −1.2% | #810 of 2,401 |
| 25Ingham County, MI | 58 | 369 | 31.5 | $294K | +1.7% | #836 of 2,401 |
Show all 83 counties
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26Jackson County, MI | 58 | 220 | 35.2 | $290K | −0.4% | #840 of 2,401 |
| 27Marquette County, MI | 57 | 99 | 35.0 | $292K | +2.3% | #875 of 2,401 |
| 28Crawford County, MI | 57 | 27 | 43.3 | $220K | +5.7% | #905 of 2,401 |
| 29Kalamazoo County, MI | 56 | 355 | 33.1 | $307K | +0.8% | #921 of 2,401 |
| 30Shiawassee County, MI | 56 | 105 | 37.3 | $295K | −0.4% | #926 of 2,401 |
| 31Kalkaska County, MI | 55 | 27 | 34.7 | $312K | +4.3% | #959 of 2,401 |
| 32Kent County, MI | 55 | 931 | 36.3 | $289K | +2.5% | #971 of 2,401 |
| 33Allegan County, MI | 55 | 189 | 41.5 | $288K | +2.1% | #972 of 2,401 |
| 34Missaukee County, MI | 55 | 23 | 38.9 | $279K | +1.4% | #981 of 2,401 |
| 35Mackinac County, MI | 55 | 18 | 34.6 | $272K | +3.8% | #986 of 2,401 |
| 36Muskegon County, MI | 54 | 264 | 39.0 | $259K | +1.8% | #1,045 of 2,401 |
| 37Lenawee County, MI | 51 | 149 | 38.3 | $286K | −1.6% | #1,175 of 2,401 |
| 38Charlevoix County, MI | 50 | 50 | 40.8 | $274K | 0.0% | #1,229 of 2,401 |
| 39Oceana County, MI | 48 | 54 | 51.8 | $218K | +1.7% | #1,317 of 2,401 |
| 40Houghton County, MI | 46 | 52 | 36.4 | $282K | +1.6% | #1,367 of 2,401 |
| 41Macomb County, MI | 46 | 1,323 | 36.9 | $276K | +0.7% | #1,370 of 2,401 |
| 42Manistee County, MI | 46 | 48 | 45.5 | $239K | +2.3% | #1,396 of 2,401 |
| 43Bay County, MI | 45 | 167 | 37.0 | $270K | −1.6% | #1,412 of 2,401 |
| 44Genesee County, MI | 45 | 614 | 36.7 | $267K | −1.1% | #1,416 of 2,401 |
| 45Berrien County, MI | 45 | 247 | 38.6 | $259K | −1.3% | #1,419 of 2,401 |
| 46Mason County, MI | 44 | 54 | 42.2 | $245K | 0.0% | #1,472 of 2,401 |
| 47Clare County, MI | 44 | 49 | 39.1 | $233K | +2.3% | #1,477 of 2,401 |
| 48Emmet County, MI | 43 | 59 | 38.8 | $285K | −1.0% | #1,494 of 2,401 |
| 49Roscommon County, MI | 43 | 49 | 42.3 | $225K | +1.9% | #1,521 of 2,401 |
| 50Sanilac County, MI | 42 | 86 | 49.1 | $214K | −1.0% | #1,576 of 2,401 |
| 51Iron County, MI | 41 | 20 | 36.1 | $265K | +1.1% | #1,593 of 2,401 |
| 52Montcalm County, MI | 41 | 137 | 55.9 | $194K | +4.1% | #1,639 of 2,401 |
| 53Saginaw County, MI | 40 | 294 | 37.7 | $265K | −1.1% | #1,649 of 2,401 |
| 54Arenac County, MI | 40 | 26 | 39.7 | $260K | +0.5% | #1,654 of 2,401 |
| 55Ionia County, MI | 40 | 108 | 46.2 | $243K | −0.5% | #1,663 of 2,401 |
| 56Presque Isle County, MI | 40 | 31 | 46.6 | $226K | +1.0% | #1,674 of 2,401 |
| 57Branch County, MI | 40 | 77 | 45.5 | $225K | +2.5% | #1,675 of 2,401 |
| 58Gratiot County, MI | 39 | 73 | 49.4 | $218K | −1.1% | #1,717 of 2,401 |
| 59Isabella County, MI | 38 | 103 | 41.3 | $241K | +0.3% | #1,734 of 2,401 |
| 60Ogemaw County, MI | 38 | 42 | 44.8 | $228K | +1.6% | #1,742 of 2,401 |
| 61St. Joseph County, MI | 36 | 108 | 45.7 | $231K | +0.1% | #1,802 of 2,401 |
| 62Delta County, MI | 35 | 59 | 36.9 | $263K | −0.8% | #1,827 of 2,401 |
| 63Osceola County, MI | 35 | 47 | 50.2 | $209K | +2.7% | #1,855 of 2,401 |
| 64Iosco County, MI | 34 | 52 | 44.4 | $203K | +0.3% | #1,895 of 2,401 |
| 65Calhoun County, MI | 33 | 226 | 42.4 | $231K | −0.6% | #1,914 of 2,401 |
| 66Wayne County, MI | 32 | 2,406 | 34.3 | $256K | −1.1% | #1,942 of 2,401 |
| 67Cheboygan County, MI | 32 | 54 | 48.4 | $221K | +0.9% | #1,954 of 2,401 |
| 68Otsego County, MI | 32 | 68 | 60.5 | $177K | +3.8% | #1,971 of 2,401 |
| 69Huron County, MI | 31 | 57 | 40.3 | $252K | −2.7% | #1,975 of 2,401 |
| 70Grand Traverse County, MI | 31 | 212 | 52.6 | $204K | +1.4% | #2,004 of 2,401 |
| 71Gogebic County, MI | 29 | 32 | 45.8 | $196K | −0.4% | #2,063 of 2,401 |
| 72Wexford County, MI | 24 | 91 | 66.4 | $153K | +2.3% | #2,202 of 2,401 |
| 73Chippewa County, MI | 22 | 71 | 50.4 | $190K | −1.9% | #2,243 of 2,401 |
| 74Dickinson County, MI | 18 | 66 | 55.4 | $174K | −0.3% | #2,309 of 2,401 |
| 75Alpena County, MI | 15 | 74 | 56.8 | $162K | −0.1% | #2,349 of 2,401 |
| Montmorency County, MI | Not scored | 14 | 28.4 | $344K | +7.3% | |
| Alger County, MI | Not scored | 10 | 28.3 | $348K | −2.3% | |
| Oscoda County, MI | Not scored | 14 | 37.0 | $244K | +6.0% | |
| Baraga County, MI | Not scored | 14 | 40.8 | $250K | +0.3% | |
| Schoolcraft County, MI | Not scored | 14 | 36.0 | $267K | +1.7% | |
| Luce County, MI | Not scored | 13 | 53.0 | $188K | −1.1% | |
| Ontonagon County, MI | Not scored | 12 | 38.1 | $266K | +0.4% | |
| Keweenaw County, MI | Not scored | 2 | 17.6 | $548K | +6.2% |
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 Michigan?
There are 14,563 auto repair and car care businesses on map listings in Michigan as of September 2026. 3,337 of them (23%) are chain locations. The listings count repair shops, body shops, tire shops, car washes, oil change and parts stores. Official counts show 6,336 businesses with payroll classed as automotive repair and maintenance, and tire dealers in 2023, up 3.9% from 2019. Another 9,109 one-person businesses have no payroll, by official counts.
How much do households in Michigan spend on vehicle maintenance and repairs?
About $4.2B a year, or $1,022 per household. That is 7% above the U.S. average (an index of 107, where 100 is the U.S. average). Spread across the 14,563 auto repair and car care businesses on map listings, it comes to $286K per business. It is estimated from the incomes of the 4,076,369 households in Michigan and national spending patterns by income.
How does Michigan compare with the U.S. for auto repair and car care businesses?
Michigan has 35.7 auto repair and car care businesses per 10,000 households, in line with the U.S. rate of 35.7. Spending per business is $286K, 6% above the U.S. figure of $269K. At the national ratio of auto repair and car care businesses to household spending, Michigan would have about 15,508, against 14,563 on map listings. There is one business with payroll in the industry for every 643 households, against one for every 681 across the U.S. The official count rose 3.9% from 2019 to 2023, against +4.1% for the U.S.
Which market in Michigan has the highest market score for auto repair and car care businesses?
Among 16 scored metro areas in or partly in Michigan, the Monroe metro area scores highest, at 78 (high). Among 19 scored small-town markets in or partly in Michigan, the Big Rapids area scores highest, at 73 (upper middle). Among 75 scored counties in Michigan, Leelanau County scores highest, at 88 (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. Michigan scores 45 for auto repair and car care businesses (lower middle), #32 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 Michigan. 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
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Top markets for auto repair and car care businesses across the U.S. · All business types in Michigan
Related business types in Michigan
- Auto repair shops8,132 listings
- Collision repair and body shops1,178 listings
- Car washes and detailing1,885 listings
- Tire shops1,223 listings
- Oil change and quick lube535 listings
- Gas stations5,561 listings
- Insurance agencies5,508 listings
Screening a site or an acquisition in Michigan?
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.