Automotive Services & Repair Valuation Multiples (2026)
Auto shops with owned real estate, fleet accounts, and high bay utilization clear stronger SDE multiples. Pure retail walk-in shops without fleet contracts sit closer to the median.
Automotive Services vs peer SDE comps (2026)
Bars = median multiple; whiskers = published low–high range. Source: ExitVelocity lower middle-market benchmarks · Q3 2026.
Example: Multi-bay repair shop (SDE)
8-bay general repair + fleet, $1.9M revenue, fleet accounts ~25% of sales, owned real estate separate from EV, owner-operator.
At $420K SDE, a 3.0x auto-services median implies ~$1.26M business EV (ex-real estate). Fleet accounts and bay utilization support the upper band; walk-in-only shops without fleet often clear nearer 2.5x.
- • Fleet repair contracts
- • High bay utilization
- • Owned RE optionality
- • Owner is only A-tech
- • Lease-only location with short term
Illustrative only — not a formal appraisal. Re-run with your financials in the free AI valuation calculator.
What moves automotive services multiples
Real estate ownership, bay count, fleet repair accounts, high car count.
Use these benchmarks with an AI valuation that adjusts for margin profile, growth, and owner dependency — not a flat industry average alone.
Frequently asked questions
What is the typical Automotive Services EBITDA multiple in 2026?
Automotive Services & Repair trades at a median of 4.3x EV/EBITDA (range 3.8x – 5.2x) in the lower middle market, based on ExitVelocity’s 2026 deal benchmarks.
What SDE multiple do Automotive Services businesses sell for?
Owner-operated automotive services companies typically clear a median 3.0x SDE multiple (range 2.5x – 3.6x), depending on recurring revenue quality and owner dependency.
What drives premium Automotive Services valuations?
Real estate ownership, bay count, fleet repair accounts, high car count.
Example: what is a Automotive Services business with $420,000 SDE worth?
Using 2026 automotive services multiples, $420,000 SDE × 3x median ≈ $1,260,000 enterprise value (range roughly $1,050,000–$1,512,000 at 2.5x–3.6x). At $420K SDE, a 3.0x auto-services median implies ~$1.26M business EV (ex-real estate). Fleet accounts and bay utilization support the upper band; walk-in-only shops without fleet often clear nearer 2.5x.
Related industry multiples
Also see: 2026 example business valuations · SDE vs EBITDA · How AI business valuation works