GREEN BAY, Wis. (WFRV) – Proposed tariffs on imported auto parts have local mechanics and car owners concerned about rising repair costs. Many aftermarket parts used in vehicle repairs are manufactured outside the U.S., and a 25% tariff could significantly increase prices.
Jaramey Plager, manager at Auto Select, says these potential changes could impact both the availability and affordability of parts.
“We do know that we are going to get tariffs increased on parts coming over from overseas, which affects a lot of aftermarket parts that we replace on cars. A lot of them are manufactured outside the U.S., and obviously, if there’s a 25% fee on that, it’s going to change the cost of getting your car repaired,” Plager said.
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Auto repair shops may need to adjust their inventory and pricing strategies in response to the higher costs.
“Depending on the cost of parts, that may change what parts we keep in stock, how much those parts cost, how available they are. If they are harder to get and they cost more, it might make sense to use other options,” Plager added.
Many shops provide customers with multiple repair options, including higher-quality, American-made parts and more affordable, imported alternatives. However, higher tariffs could make it harder for shops to continue offering lower-cost choices.
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“Certain clients like to use the price-saving option, if you will, and that could make that more difficult to offer if 25% is added on them,” Plager said.
As repair costs rise, some customers may delay necessary fixes.
“If a repair costs more, that’s going to affect someone saying, ‘Yeah, go ahead and fix it.’ If it’s double the price because the parts are that much more expensive, that could make someone say, ‘Maybe next week,’ you know,” Plager explained.
While the tariffs have not yet taken effect, mechanics and car owners alike are watching closely to see how the changes could impact the cost of vehicle repairs in the near future.
