Auto Repair Density Ranked
Wyoming Ranks First for Auto Repair Shop Density Across U.S. States
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Key Points
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The comparison used the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages data for NAICS 8111, the classification for “Automotive Repair and Maintenance,” and measured shop density against each state’s population.
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The articles connect high repair-shop density in Wyoming, South Dakota and Montana to both sparse populations and car dependence, noting that residents in these states record some of the nation’s highest vehicle miles traveled.
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Wyoming recorded 742 million vehicle miles traveled in November 2025 alone, according to the Federal Highway Administration’s Traffic Volume Trends 2025 report—an unusually high total for a state with a population of roughly 589,000.
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Mississippi was presented as a middle-of-the-pack example, with a population of 2,954,160 and 1,573 automotive repair establishments.
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The featured states’ per-capita rates were 71.6 shops per capita in Idaho, 51.6 in Florida, 50.1 in Connecticut, 48.1 in Delaware and 42.7 in Hawaii.
The United States has 176,403 automotive repair and maintenance shops, but their availability varies dramatically by state. Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows Wyoming leads with the highest per-capita rate at 494 shops, while Arizona ranks last despite having 3,230 total establishments. California dominates in absolute numbers with 20,998 shops but ranks only 24th per capita.
Wyoming's Outsized Need for Auto Repair
Wyoming's high repair shop density stems from extreme car dependence in a sparsely populated state. The state has roughly 589,000 residents but recorded 742 million vehicle miles traveled in November 2025 alone, according to Federal Highway Administration data. This translates to roughly 1,260 miles per resident—far above the national average. South Dakota and Montana follow Wyoming in per-capita shop density for similar reasons.
California and Texas: Size Doesn't Match Repair Need
California's 20,998 repair shops far exceed any other state, but the state ranks only 24th in per-capita density. This gap reflects California's massive population of nearly 40 million residents. Similarly, Texas ranks second nationally with 14,614 shops but places 42nd per capita at 46.1 shops per 100,000 people, according to Way.com analysis. Both states have more people than repair infrastructure relative to their size.
Wisconsin presents an interesting contrast. Way.com reports Wisconsin has 3,410 total repair shops with a per-capita rate of 57.1 shops per 100,000 people—the highest in the nation. This outpaces Wyoming and reflects the state's strong emphasis on vehicle maintenance.
Regional Disparities: From Florida to Hawaii
Mid-size states show markedly different repair shop densities. Florida has 12,111 shops ranking 29th per capita at 51.6 shops per 100,000 residents. Connecticut ranks 31st with 1,847 shops at 50.1 per capita. Delaware ranks 39th with just 510 shops at 48.1 per capita. Hawaii ranks last at 42.7 per capita with 612 total shops, suggesting island residents face limited repair options.
Idaho ranks eighth nationally in per-capita density with 1,453 shops and 71.6 shops per 100,000 residents. Bureau of Labor Statistics data underlying these comparisons comes from the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages for NAICS 8111, the automotive repair and maintenance classification. Mississippi represents a middle example with 1,573 repair establishments serving 2,954,160 residents.
Arizona's Paradox: Many Shops, Low Per-Capita Ranking
Arizona ranks 50th—last—in per-capita repair shop density despite having 3,230 total establishments, the fifth-most of any state. This paradox reflects Arizona's rapid population growth and urbanization. The state's 7.4 million residents outnumber repair infrastructure relative to demand. Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows this mismatch clearly when population-adjusted figures are calculated, revealing Arizona's repair shops cannot keep pace with resident needs.
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