The pandemic dramatically altered our lives and continues to do so in a multitude of ways, including the cars we drive and whether we should replace them for a higher price, or repair and maintain the ones we have.
Many people are opting to keep and repair their vehicles, causing a surge in business for local auto repair shops.
“If you go to the dealership, they’re marking the cars up. There is no negotiation,” said BK, manager at Auto ER on Archer Road.
“For us, we are seeing a lot more people fixing their cars and (people are saying) ‘I’d rather put money into this car I’ve had for ten years than sell it.’ They can’t even find a car or pay over price for a vehicle.”
A shortage of microchips has caused auto manufacturers to halt production, making new vehicles more expensive and harder to find. Supply issues are shrinking the number of available cars on the lot, with many of them arriving pre-sold. This eliminates negotiating ability.
The lack of new cars has also driven the price of used vehicles up 16.1% from a year ago, shown in the latest report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The combination of new and used vehicles being in short supply and owners choosing to maintain their vehicles has created a phenomenon. According to S&P Mobility, the average age of cars on the roads is now over 12 years old, the oldest of all time and climbing.
What’s BK’s advice for folks skipping the headache of visiting a dealership and opting to visit a repair shop? “Read the reviews of the company. By reading the reviews they would see we really do a good job here. We have great staff on the counter at all locations that really care. Most important thing is everybody leaves happy.”
Auto ER offers service from five locations in Gainesville, Newberry and High Springs to accommodate your automotive needs.