Are PE Firms Still Buying Auto Repair Businesses in 2026?

Yes — and the tempo is picking up, not slowing down. I'm tracking active acquisition programs from Driven Brands, Mavis Tire Express, Valvoline Global, Monro Auto Service, Christian Brothers Automotive (Roark Capital), Big O Tires, Caliber Collision, and Spire Vehicle Services. Each of these platforms closed deals in Q1 2026, and I've had direct conversations with acquisition leads at several about what they're underwriting for the rest of the year.

2026 Auto Repair M&A Snapshot

  • Small solo shops ($500K-$1M): 2.5x-4.0x SDE (independent buyers, SBA financing)
  • Multi-bay single location ($1M-$3M): 3.5x-5.0x EBITDA
  • Multi-location platform ($3M-$15M): 4.5x-7.0x EBITDA (PE/strategic)
  • Typical close timeline: 6-9 months
  • Sweet spot for PE: $2M-$15M revenue, 3+ bays/location, 60/40 repair/maintenance

Which Segments of Auto Repair Are PE Firms Targeting?

There are really four sub-categories inside auto repair M&A right now, and the multiples diverge sharply. Quick lube and oil change (Driven Brands' Take 5, Valvoline Instant Oil Change) is the most consolidated and commands 7x-10x EBITDA at the platform level. Collision repair (Caliber, Crash Champions, Gerber) is in late-stage consolidation and paying 6x-9x EBITDA for well-run multi-shop operators. Tire and mechanical (Mavis, Monro, Big O) is still actively rolling up at 4.5x-7.0x. General repair and diagnostics (Christian Brothers, Spire, and hundreds of regional platforms) is the least consolidated and the segment where most independent shop owners I work with sit — multiples run 4.0x-6.5x EBITDA depending on location count and capability.

What Are PE Buyers Underwriting For in 2026?

Three things have moved to the top of the diligence list that weren't there three years ago. First, ADAS calibration capability. Buyers pay a half-turn premium for shops with in-house or regional partnership calibration, because every 2019+ vehicle coming through the bay needs it. Second, EV service readiness — battery diagnostics, high-voltage safety certification, and technician training. Shops without any EV work plan see multiples discounted by 0.5x to 1.0x because buyers know that fleet is growing. Third, technician retention and bench depth. A shop with 80%+ 3-year technician retention and a clear apprentice pipeline commands a meaningful premium over a shop with constant turnover.

Recurring maintenance revenue is still king. Shops where 40%+ of revenue comes from returning customers on service intervals trade at the top of their range. Shops heavily dependent on one-time diagnostic work or used-car pre-purchase inspections trade at the bottom.

"I closed an auto repair deal in Q4 2025 where the owner had built exactly what PE platforms are hunting for: four locations, ADAS calibration in two of them, 45% maintenance/55% repair mix, and two general managers he'd promoted from technician ranks. Enterprise value came in at 6.8x EBITDA — roughly 1.3x above the comp set. The buyer told me flatly that they'd have paid less for a larger business that was more owner-dependent. Scale matters, but operational readiness matters more."

— John M. Salony, Business Broker

If you want to see where your auto repair business benchmarks against current buyer criteria, start with my auto repair business valuation hub. Owners evaluating M&A across related trades should also review my HVAC consolidation outlook — the playbooks overlap more than most owners realize.

Find Out What Your Auto Repair Business Is Worth

Use my free valuation calculator to see where your shop lands against current PE buyer criteria, then book a confidential consultation to walk through specific operational gaps worth closing before you go to market.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which private equity firms are buying auto repair businesses in 2026?
The most active platforms in 2026 are Driven Brands (which owns Take 5 Oil Change, Meineke, Maaco, and CARSTAR), Mavis Tire Express Services (BayCare Capital), Valvoline Global (spun off from Valvoline Inc. and now focused on quick-lube consolidation), Monro Auto Service, Christian Brothers Automotive (Roark Capital), Big O Tires (part of TBC Corporation), Caliber Collision (Hellman & Friedman), and Spire Vehicle Services. Each runs an active acquisition program with dedicated corporate development teams. Beyond these, a dozen or more regional PE-backed rollups operate sub-national platforms focused on specific metros or repair specialties. Independent buyers with SBA 7(a) financing remain the primary market for solo shops under $1M in revenue — those deals typically close at 2.5x-4.0x SDE versus 4.5x-7.0x EBITDA for strategic deals.
What size auto repair business attracts PE attention?
The sweet spot for PE platforms is $2M-$15M in annual revenue with at least three bays per location and ideally two or more locations. Below $2M, platforms generally pass because the diligence cost doesn't justify the deal size — they'll acquire the same revenue faster through a larger single deal. Above $15M, you're in platform-acquisition territory, which commands even higher multiples (6.5x-9.0x EBITDA) but requires institutional-grade financials and management. The mix that drives premium multiples is 60% repair / 40% maintenance with 40%+ repeat-customer revenue. Owners willing to stay 12-24 months post-close in a general manager role also see a small multiple premium because it de-risks the transition. If you're under $2M and thinking about a sale, focus on growing to a second location or reaching $2.5M+ in revenue before going to market — that size threshold alone typically adds 0.5x-1.0x to the multiple.