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FRANCHISE RESALES

Buy a CARSTAR Franchise

CARSTAR is North America’s largest network of independently owned and operated collision repair centers, founded and franchising since 1989. Operating across the US and Canada from more than 750 locations, the brand serves vehicle owners, insurance carriers, fleet operators, and commercial accounts with collision repair, paintless dent repair, hail damage repair, auto glass replacement, and fleet services.

The model is built around a conversion and co-branding structure: most franchisees are existing collision shop operators who join the CARSTAR network, gaining national brand identity, insurance relationships, and operational systems while retaining independent ownership of their facility. CARSTAR does not operate company-owned locations; all centers are independently owned and locally managed.

Since 2015, CARSTAR has been part of Driven Brands, which brings broader purchasing infrastructure and corporate support to the franchise system. Franchisees access a network of 50+ preferred vendors and suppliers, established insurance carrier relationships, and OEM certification support. Each center gains access to an average of 17 key insurance carrier opportunities through the CARSTAR network.

Latest Resales

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Why buy a CARSTAR Franchise?

The collision repair category provides steady demand from accidents and weather events that vehicle owners cannot defer. CARSTAR franchisees benefit from direct repair program (DRP) relationships with insurance carriers, delivering institutional referral volume that independent shops must negotiate on their own. Access to 50+ vendor partnerships, including Sherwin Williams, Axalta BASF, and 3M, provides input-cost advantages relative to independent operators.

CARSTAR’s OEM certification support helps franchisees pursue higher-margin repair work on modern ADAS-equipped vehicles, and the Driven Brands network extends purchasing power beyond what individual shops can access. To buy a CARSTAR franchise resale means acquiring an established operation with existing insurance relationships, a recognized brand, and a unit that has moved through its initial onboarding ramp.

CARSTAR Franchise Costs & Information

Based on 2024 data reported in the 2025 FDD

  • Brand Profile

    • Year Founded

      1989

    • Franchising Since

      1989

    • New Startup Cost

      $23,500 – $804,300

    • Avg. Resale Price

      Contact us for details

  • Franchise Fees

    • Initial franchise Fee

      $10,000

      for new territories

    • Transfer Fee

      $0

    • Royalty Fee

      1.5–4%

      of Gross Sales

    • Marketing Fee

      1%

      of monthly Gross Sales

  • Unit Performance

    • Total Units *

      471

    • New Units Opened *

      48

    • Units Transferred *

      16

    • Avg. Unit revenue *

      $3,205,928

    * Based on 2024 data reported in the 2025 FDD

CARSTAR – Additional  Information

  1. Training & Support

    CARSTAR provides initial training of 16 classroom hours and 3-6 hours on-the-job, with ongoing development through Collision U, its online platform for repair techniques and industry updates. Franchisees access EDGE and Qlik platforms for real-time KPI tracking and performance analysis, and Field Performance Managers offer hands-on location-level support. EDGE Performance Groups connect franchisees across the network for peer benchmarking. Marketing support covers corporate-managed digital advertising, SEO, and social media. Resale buyers should confirm what transfer training CARSTAR provides to incoming owners and what Collision U and EDGE platform access carries over with a change of ownership.

  2. Ideal Owner

    The typical CARSTAR franchisee is an existing collision shop operator converting to the network rather than a first-time buyer entering the industry. The owner role centers on managing technician staff, building relationships with insurance adjusters and DRP coordinators, and meeting the franchisor's operational benchmarks. Business management and client-relationship skills matter more than hands-on repair capability. Industry background helps but is not mandatory given the training and support infrastructure. Operators comfortable with B2B relationship management and operational oversight fit the model well.

  3. Recognition & Awards

    CARSTAR is ranked #191 in the Entrepreneur Franchise 500, reflecting consistent recognition among established franchise systems in the automotive sector. In 2018, Entrepreneur named the brand #1 in the Auto Repair and Services category, and it has appeared in Franchise Times rankings. As part of Driven Brands, CARSTAR operates within a parent company with broad automotive industry visibility. For resale buyers, national brand recognition supports DRP standing with major insurance carriers and contributes to customer trust and referral volume at the local level.

  4. Industry / Market

    The US car body shop sector generates approximately $76.75 billion annually (IBISWorld, 2024), driven by vehicle accidents, weather damage, and the growing cost of repairing modern vehicles. The prevalence of ADAS-equipped cars has raised calibration requirements and average repair values, benefiting network operators over independents. The category is broadly non-discretionary, with demand holding across economic cycles. For resale buyers, local accident frequency, territory weather patterns, and the unit's DRP relationships with insurance carriers are key factors to evaluate.

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