Industry experts are beginning to see signs of recovery for collision repairers after several years of uncertainty. At the recent CIECA CONNEX conference, consultant Sean Carey described the past two years as a “roller coaster ride” with downturns tied to reduced vehicle sales, pandemic aftereffects, and rising insurance premiums. Now, heading into 2026, he expects the market to grow by four to five percent.
For many shops, the most important takeaway is not just that the work is returning, but that the type of work is changing. The recovery is expected to bring an increase in customer-pay repairs, smaller ticket jobs, and more dealer and fleet reconditioning work. This shift presents a strong opportunity for collision repairers who are ready to adapt.
Consumers have deferred an estimated $60 billion in repair work over the past few years. With used vehicle values climbing, drivers are beginning to see their older cars as more valuable and worth repairing. Those tidy $1,000 to $3,000 jobs that were once put off are likely to return.
This is good news for shops that rely on customer-pay work, but it also comes with challenges. When consumers face out-of-pocket repair bills, they may hesitate or delay approval. Offering flexible and secure payment solutions is key to capturing this business.
CrossCheck specializes in payment protection for the automotive industry. For collision repairers, our services make it easier to say yes to every job.
These programs keep repairers cash-flow positive while giving customers the flexibility they need to move forward with repairs.
Carey predicts that many collision repair businesses will see new opportunities as customer-pay work increases. While independent shops may benefit from their close community ties, multi-location and dealer-affiliated repair centers are also likely to see more repair volume from used vehicle reconditioning and trade-ins.
CrossCheck supports all types of repair operations with payment solutions that help close more jobs and reduce financial risk. Whether a business is locally owned or part of a larger dealer network, our programs make it easier to serve more customers and keep transactions secure.
The collision repair industry is shifting into a period of renewed activity. Shops that understand the importance of customer-pay work and prepare to accommodate it will be best positioned to succeed. With CrossCheck protecting every payment and helping customers manage repair costs, collision repairers of all sizes can approach this recovery cycle with confidence.