St. Charles auto repair shops prep for potential price hikes due to tariffs

ST. CHARLES, Mo. (First Alert 4) – Drivers across the St. Louis region could soon feel a financial jolt at the repair shop as new tariffs on auto parts begin to roll out.

The brace for impact comes as auto repair shops in the area prepare for potential price hikes for auto parts as the Trump administration implements sweeping tariffs. Tariffs on auto imports started this week, while a similar tax on auto parts is set to take effect May 3.

Analysts say the added costs could significantly raise the price of vehicle repairs, and potentially drive up auto insurance premiums.

At Sparks Tire & Auto in St. Charles, General Manager Greg Damon says he’s already bracing for the impact.

“Unfortunately, costs will be passed to the consumer,” Damon tells First Alert 4. “Oil, filters, brakes, you name it, just about everything is more expensive for us. No business can absorb those rising costs after a while.”

Damon, along with other industry experts, says many of the parts used in modern vehicles are manufactured overseas. With tariffs now in effect, shops that rely on those imports expect prices to spike.

In addition to higher bills, customers may also experience longer wait times for repairs, as the parts pipeline faces added strain, Damon says.

The full effect of the tariffs may take weeks or months to set in. For now, May 3rd marks a key date, when higher prices for parts are expected to kick in. Economists say that delay leaves a narrow window for countries hit by the tariffs to negotiate new trade deals that could help keep costs down.

Still, the uncertainty has auto manufacturers hesitant to make long-term production shifts back to the U.S., one of the Trump administration’s goals of the tariffs, and many local shops say it’s the customer who will feel the financial fallout in the short term.

Local mechanics recommend that drivers stay on top of routine maintenance now to avoid pricier repairs later.

“If you keep up with maintenance, you should be able to 150-, 200-, maybe 300,000 miles out of your car, Damon says, ”as long as you keep up with your maintenance.“

For Dan Klott, President of Indy Motorsports in St. Charles, a used car dealer and repair shop, he says he already hunts for good deals to keep costs low for his customers.

“We go to Amazon or eBay a lot to find parts,” Klott says.“I think customers are going to be a lot smarter about where they get their parts, too.”

While he’s bracing for a potential hit to his bottom line, Klott says he has plans to keep costs low.

“With the amount of competitiveness on Amazon and eBay, we can still find savings, we just have to look for it,” Klott says.

Copyright 2025 KMOV. All rights reserved.