Cox Automotive analysts say higher prices and longer purchase cycles helped U.S. dealers secure service business from 80% of new car buyers last year, one of several highlights among mixed results in the 2026 Fixed Operations and Ownership Study.

Nearly two-thirds of consumers will own their current vehicle for at least five years — driving the average disposed vehicle age to 10 years old — amid a near-$50,000 average new car transaction price.

Dealership parts and service revenue improved by 33% to $9.23 million over the past eight years. But dealers’ share of all service visits fell from 33% to 29% in the same span, coinciding with a proliferation of independent shops and the emergence of the mobile mechanic industry. Average dealer spend ($261) fell below general repair cost ($275), defying widely held assumptions.

Cox Director of Product Consulting Skyler Chadwick says the study attempts to identify characteristics common to “thriving” service operations.

“The stakes are high for service experience as competition is expanding and consumers hold onto cost misperceptions, yet service is where dealerships can gain trust, demonstrate transparency and deliver value that unlocks inventory or repurchase opportunities,” Chadwick writes in a release.

Read more at Cox Automotive