Nevada Study Shows More After-Market Parts Used for Repairs

The Nevada Division of Insurance’s 2001 Auto Body Survey shows that more of the state’s auto shops are using after-market parts in repairs than in previous years.

The annual survey is based on 160 responses, representing 55 percent of licensed auto body shops in the state. Findings are separately listed for the counties of Clark (including Las Vegas), Washoe (including Reno), Elko, Douglas and Carson City. The remaining 12 counties are collectively identified as “rural.”

The use of after-market parts was most significant in Carson City, with 90 percent of the shops using them, followed by 67 percent in Washoe County, 64 percent in Clark County, 57 in the collective rural counties and 50 percent in both Elko and Douglas county.

Other survey findings include:

— Hourly rates for rural shops have increased in all areas of auto repair;

— The percentage of markup for parts has increased slightly in Clark and Elko County;

— Rural counties have increased markup for glass and sublet repairs, but remain the same for the markup on parts;

— Independent shops comprise 80 percent of all businesses, followed by 18 percent dealer shops and 2 percent franchises;

— 80 percent of shops offer employee technical training.