The quick lube field has seen tremendous growth in recent years—not just in size, but in the level of customer satisfaction, too. The Ducker Carlisle 2026 Consumer Sentiment Survey found that, for the first time in more than a decade of conducting the study, automotive chains surpassed dealers as the most frequently used provider for auto service.

“A 22-point swing in five years does not happen by chance, particularly because the trend has been regular and consistent,” the firm wrote in its findings.

Indeed, there are a few reasons why quick lube has made steady growth and has now overtaken dealers. To help understand what’s caused this shift, Nate Chenenko, a principal at Ducker Carlisle, walks through each factor fueling this trend.

Price Savings for Drivers

Dealership service retention has been on a decline since before COVID, marking an ongoing trend that’s been occurring for roughly eight years now.

“After one year, you figure it's a fluke. Two years, you start to worry. Three years, you realize it's a pattern. After around eight years, you know it's structural,” says Chenenko.

In particular, there’s success being seen with quick lube chains. In nearly every month since April 2024, quick lube chains displayed the most growth relative to the beginning of the year in Ducker Carlisle’s research—even in January and February, when other segments of the service industry typically stagger, including dealers.

There are a few key reasons as to why quick lubes have seen steady growth over dealers. Potentially the biggest reason is pricing, with an oil change service at most quick lube locations being $5 to even $15 cheaper than what drivers see at dealerships. 

In its 2026 Consumer Sentiment Survey, Ducker Carlisle found that dealers lead independent repair facilities, tire chains, and quick lube chains in dollars per transaction. That gap has been on a steady increase, with dealer transaction costs having increased $120 since 2022—the largest absolute increase of any channel in Ducker Carlisle’s data.

Customers react to financial constraints in different ways, and a common one is deferring essential vehicle needs. This, too, can play a role in the decision to choose a quick lube over a dealer. A driver knows they won’t be told what all is wrong with their vehicle—they’re just getting an oil change and on their way. In other words, it’s predictable.

That predictability is only more common as quick lube chains grow. The more they grow, the more standardized their teams’ service procedures become. It’s allowed huge companies like Valvoline to even overtake dealers when it comes to service ratings; an area where dealers have historically had the edge over others.

“Valvoline has a very good net promoter score. In our recent survey, Valvoline scores just slightly, like a hair better than dealers, and this is a change from the past,” explains Chenenko.

The quick lube industry has gradually had the bar raised through more polished branding, clearer pricing, and more predictable experiences. That consistency has been part of why customers are reporting higher satisfaction.

Location Convenience

The convenience of where quick lubes typically are located is another factor that has played into their favor. Quick lube shops are often found in the middle of town, nearby other amenities such as grocery stores or fast food. By contrast, dealership service departments are usually clustered in auto malls outside of people’s way. It’s easy to see what the more convenient choice for a driver is.

The one area where dealers remain on top is customer retention. Though the frequency of stores has made quick lubes more accessible for drivers, it can also lead to customers who aren’t as committed to a single brand as they are the convenience. Their choice could change at any moment based on where they’re located.

“If it’s easy to get in, it’s easy to get out,” tells Chenenko. “If it’s easy to switch to the chain, it’s easy to switch away from the chain—depending on where I’m at, who sent me a coupon, or where my errands take me that day.”

Looking Ahead

Dealers see this overall shift toward quick lubes, and they have shown signs of taking some action, such as extending coverage for free maintenance plans from 2–3 years out to 3–4 years, which could lock in more early-life oil changes at dealers. 

Despite that, it’s expected that quick lubes will continue to gain market share from dealers, though the rate of that increase may start to gradually slow. Quick lubes still have plenty of room for improvement though, especially as their competitors begin to examine what they can do better.

“Dealers can complain about Valvoline's quick growth, but there's nothing they can do about it,” Chenenko says. “The only thing they can really do about it is open more locations, which they're extremely unlikely to do, or price themselves more competitively. And they're trying to take business from somebody who's closer, probably faster, delivers the same quality of service and customer satisfaction, and is cheaper. You can see why they're losing business. That is a pretty tough combo to beat.”