Market rankings · California

Auto repair shops in California

Every metro area, small-town market and county in California, ranked by the Groundwork market score for auto repair shops, with competitor counts and household spending for each.

Listings: 33,404; 4,804 chain locations (14%)
Official establishments: 15,727; +2.1% since 2019
Household spending a year: $15.2B; On vehicle maintenance and repairs
Listings per 10k households: 24.7; 15% above the U.S.
Spending per listing: $455K; 2% above the U.S.
Rank among states: #37 of 51; Market score 42 · Lower middle

A site report maps the auto repair shops on map listings around any address in California by name and distance, and the spending within reach.

Free10 actions over 3 days, no card

Survey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure

What this means

California has 33,404 auto repair shops on map listings as of September 2026. Chain locations make up 14% of them, against 16% across the U.S. Per 10,000 households, that is 24.7, 15% above the U.S. rate of 21.5.

At $1,122 per household (17% above the U.S. average), households in California spend about $15.2B a year on vehicle maintenance and repairs. That is about $455K of household spending for each shop on map listings, 2% above the U.S. figure of $445K. The spending figure covers all vehicle maintenance and repairs, not only auto repair shops.

Official counts show 15,727 businesses with payroll classed as mechanical, body and glass repair in California in 2023, up 2.1% from 2019. That is one for every 861 households, against one for every 955 across the U.S. Across the U.S., the count rose 2.1% over the same years. Since fiscal 2022, 999 SBA-backed loans worth $669.5M have gone to businesses classed as mechanical, body and glass repair in California.

Among the 50 states and DC, California ranks #37 for auto repair shops, with a Groundwork market score of 42 (lower middle). Of the 25 scored metro areas in or partly in California, the Merced metro area scores highest (78). Of the 10 scored small-town markets in or partly in California, the Gardnerville Ranchos area scores highest (75).

Every market in California for auto repair shops

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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

Metro areas reaching California, ranked for auto repair shops by Groundwork market score
Market	Score	Listings	Per 10k households	Spending per listing	Population growth	U.S. rank
1Merced, CA	78	180	20.9	$531K	+5.1%	#20 of 387
2Napa, CA	68	81	16.3	$743K	−3.3%	#61 of 387
3Vallejo, CA	64	360	22.9	$539K	+0.6%	#88 of 387
4Stockton-Lodi, CA	63	617	25.2	$485K	+5.5%	#92 of 387
5San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	62	1,496	22.0	$552K	−0.6%	#95 of 387
6San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA	61	245	22.4	$535K	0.0%	#104 of 387
7Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA	58	202	20.8	$590K	−4.7%	#123 of 387
8Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA	58	2,068	23.4	$479K	+3.2%	#130 of 387
9Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA	57	405	21.2	$557K	−0.4%	#136 of 387
10Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA	54	4,024	27.7	$444K	+3.5%	#169 of 387
11Yuba City, CA	53	161	26.0	$448K	+3.3%	#183 of 387
12San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	51	3,554	20.4	$511K	−2.4%	#192 of 387
13San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA	50	2,741	23.4	$482K	−0.6%	#200 of 387
14Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA	49	347	23.2	$496K	−1.4%	#206 of 387
15Visalia, CA	49	383	26.7	$433K	+2.4%	#208 of 387
16Fresno, CA	47	986	26.6	$413K	+3.2%	#233 of 387
17Salinas, CA	46	331	25.0	$486K	−1.5%	#236 of 387
18Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA	45	757	27.0	$463K	−1.5%	#248 of 387
19Hanford-Corcoran, CA	44	119	27.0	$402K	+1.0%	#256 of 387
20Bakersfield-Delano, CA	41	782	27.4	$392K	+2.3%	#269 of 387
21Modesto, CA	39	521	29.3	$405K	+0.7%	#283 of 387
22Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	36	11,778	26.2	$412K	−2.6%	#293 of 387
23Chico, CA	34	219	26.3	$395K	−0.5%	#309 of 387
24El Centro, CA	33	152	30.6	$340K	+1.1%	#319 of 387
25Redding, CA	29	203	28.5	$381K	−0.3%	#338 of 387

Small-town markets

Small-town markets reaching California, ranked for auto repair shops by Groundwork market score
Market	Score	Listings	Per 10k households	Spending per listing	Population growth	U.S. rank
Gardnerville Ranchos, NV-CA	75	36	16.5	$759K	+0.9%	#39 of 538
1Crescent City, CA	70	12	12.6	$817K	−4.4%	#73 of 538
2Red Bluff, CA	68	47	19.0	$567K	−1.7%	#87 of 538
3Clearlake, CA	63	60	22.3	$507K	−0.6%	#132 of 538
4Truckee-Grass Valley, CA	58	109	25.4	$467K	−0.4%	#184 of 538
5Sonora, CA	57	51	22.5	$508K	−4.0%	#192 of 538
6Susanville, CA	56	18	19.5	$558K	−13.1%	#202 of 538
7Eureka-Arcata, CA	52	100	18.2	$544K	−3.4%	#257 of 538
8Bishop, CA	40	20	24.9	$429K	−4.4%	#368 of 538
9Ukiah, CA	36	85	24.4	$430K	−3.5%	#408 of 538

Counties

Counties in California, ranked for auto repair shops by Groundwork market score
Market	Score	Listings	Per 10k households	Spending per listing	Population growth	U.S. rank
1Yuba County, CA	89	40	14.0	$817K	+8.2%	#30 of 2,378
2Calaveras County, CA	81	26	14.1	$928K	+2.8%	#91 of 2,378
3San Benito County, CA	80	47	22.9	$633K	+8.6%	#117 of 2,378
4Mariposa County, CA	79	8	10.7	$1.1M	−1.2%	#126 of 2,378
5Placer County, CA	77	323	20.4	$591K	+8.9%	#172 of 2,378
6Contra Costa County, CA	73	758	18.3	$668K	+0.3%	#256 of 2,378
7Trinity County, CA	72	5	9.0	$1.2M	−2.3%	#278 of 2,378
8Merced County, CA	72	180	20.9	$531K	+5.1%	#297 of 2,378
9El Dorado County, CA	70	134	17.6	$729K	+0.6%	#334 of 2,378
10Mono County, CA	69	6	10.4	$1.1M	−5.4%	#357 of 2,378
11Riverside County, CA	69	1,891	24.4	$508K	+5.0%	#386 of 2,378
12Del Norte County, CA	68	12	12.6	$817K	−4.4%	#398 of 2,378
13Madera County, CA	67	115	25.3	$476K	+7.4%	#476 of 2,378
14Napa County, CA	66	81	16.3	$743K	−3.3%	#484 of 2,378
15San Joaquin County, CA	65	617	25.2	$485K	+5.5%	#535 of 2,378
16Solano County, CA	64	360	22.9	$539K	+0.6%	#569 of 2,378
17Amador County, CA	63	34	21.1	$567K	+3.2%	#603 of 2,378
18Tehama County, CA	62	47	19.0	$567K	−1.7%	#647 of 2,378
19Santa Clara County, CA	61	1,449	22.0	$549K	−0.9%	#688 of 2,378
20San Luis Obispo County, CA	61	245	22.4	$535K	0.0%	#689 of 2,378
21Colusa County, CA	59	17	22.6	$534K	−0.1%	#761 of 2,378
22Santa Cruz County, CA	58	202	20.8	$590K	−4.7%	#794 of 2,378
23Sonoma County, CA	57	405	21.2	$557K	−0.4%	#843 of 2,378
24Lake County, CA	56	60	22.3	$507K	−0.6%	#897 of 2,378
25Yolo County, CA	54	176	22.9	$476K	+3.1%	#1,008 of 2,378

Show all 58 counties

Counties in California, ranked for auto repair shops by Groundwork market score, continued
Market	Score	Listings	Per 10k households	Spending per listing	Population growth	U.S. rank
26San Diego County, CA	53	2,741	23.4	$482K	−0.6%	#1,053 of 2,378
27Tulare County, CA	53	383	26.7	$433K	+2.4%	#1,067 of 2,378
28Santa Barbara County, CA	52	347	23.2	$496K	−1.4%	#1,091 of 2,378
29San Francisco County, CA	51	419	11.5	$569K	−5.6%	#1,130 of 2,378
30Lassen County, CA	51	18	19.5	$558K	−13.1%	#1,131 of 2,378
31Tuolumne County, CA	51	51	22.5	$508K	−4.0%	#1,134 of 2,378
32Sacramento County, CA	51	1,435	25.1	$431K	+2.0%	#1,152 of 2,378
33Monterey County, CA	50	331	25.0	$486K	−1.5%	#1,179 of 2,378
34Nevada County, CA	50	109	25.4	$467K	−0.4%	#1,183 of 2,378
35Ventura County, CA	50	757	27.0	$463K	−1.5%	#1,184 of 2,378
36Siskiyou County, CA	48	38	19.9	$533K	−4.5%	#1,265 of 2,378
37Fresno County, CA	48	871	26.8	$404K	+2.6%	#1,301 of 2,378
38Kings County, CA	48	119	27.0	$402K	+1.0%	#1,303 of 2,378
39Orange County, CA	47	2,961	27.3	$439K	−1.1%	#1,331 of 2,378
40Kern County, CA	47	782	27.4	$392K	+2.3%	#1,345 of 2,378
41Humboldt County, CA	46	100	18.2	$544K	−3.4%	#1,368 of 2,378
42Marin County, CA	46	240	23.3	$488K	−2.9%	#1,370 of 2,378
43San Bernardino County, CA	46	2,133	31.6	$388K	+1.9%	#1,405 of 2,378
44Stanislaus County, CA	45	521	29.3	$405K	+0.7%	#1,442 of 2,378
45Glenn County, CA	45	28	28.5	$402K	−2.6%	#1,443 of 2,378
46Alameda County, CA	44	1,402	23.4	$455K	−2.6%	#1,468 of 2,378
47San Mateo County, CA	41	735	27.8	$432K	−2.5%	#1,588 of 2,378
48Butte County, CA	40	219	26.3	$395K	−0.5%	#1,661 of 2,378
49Los Angeles County, CA	38	8,817	25.8	$403K	−3.0%	#1,735 of 2,378
50Imperial County, CA	38	152	30.6	$340K	+1.1%	#1,755 of 2,378
51Inyo County, CA	36	20	24.9	$429K	−4.4%	#1,805 of 2,378
52Shasta County, CA	35	203	28.5	$381K	−0.3%	#1,838 of 2,378
53Plumas County, CA	34	19	23.6	$443K	−5.9%	#1,864 of 2,378
54Mendocino County, CA	32	85	24.4	$430K	−3.5%	#1,928 of 2,378
55Sutter County, CA	30	121	36.3	$326K	−0.7%	#2,027 of 2,378
Modoc County, CA	Not scored	9	27.5	$401K	−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 shops on map listings, and counties under 10,000 people, aren’t scored; they’re listed last in each table.

Questions

How many auto repair shops are in California?

Map listings as of September 2026 show 33,404 auto repair shops in California. 4,804 of them (14%) are chain locations. The listings count general, specialty, body and glass repair shops. Official counts show 15,727 businesses with payroll classed as mechanical, body and glass repair in 2023, up 2.1% from 2019. Official counts list 28,144 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 33,404 auto repair shops on map listings, it comes to $455K per shop. That spending covers all vehicle maintenance and repairs, which auto repair shops share with other businesses in the trade. 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 shops?

California has 24.7 auto repair shops per 10,000 households, 15% above the U.S. rate of 21.5. Spending per shop is $455K, 2% above the U.S. figure of $445K. At the U.S. ratio of auto repair shops to household spending, California would have about 34,186, against 33,404 on map listings. There is one business with payroll in the industry for every 861 households, against one for every 955 across the U.S. The official count rose 2.1% from 2019 to 2023, against +2.1% for the U.S.

Which market in California has the highest market score for auto repair shops?

Among 25 scored metro areas in or partly in California, the Merced metro area scores highest, at 78 (high). Among 10 scored small-town markets in or partly in California, the Gardnerville Ranchos area scores highest, at 75 (high). Among 55 scored counties in California, Yuba County scores highest, at 89 (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 42 for auto repair shops (lower middle), #37 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 shops 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 care52,949 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?

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