Finnish car repair shops overwhelmed as owners keep older vehicles running

Finnish car repair shops are facing unprecedented demand, with some reporting wait times of over a month as drivers hold on to aging vehicles rather than buy new ones, Yle reports.

Long queues have become common at workshops across the country, with some—like Horttana Auto in Mustasaari, western Finland—reporting wait times of up to 4.5 weeks. Owner Toni Horttana described the situation as unusually persistent, noting that while seasonal backlogs occur, they typically ease within two to three weeks. “Right now, the phone hasn’t stopped ringing,” he said.

The surge in demand stems from Finland’s aging vehicle fleet. Many drivers are opting to maintain older cars instead of upgrading, a trend supported by registration data: new passenger car registrations dropped nearly 10% in April compared to last year, with overall first-time registrations slightly down for early 2024.

Jouko Sohlberg, technical director of the Finnish Automotive Trade Association, confirmed that older vehicles require more frequent repairs, raising concerns about traffic safety. “As cars age, faults become more critical—and more dangerous,” he warned.

In Ostrobothnia, where the average vehicle age is among the highest in mainland Finland, mechanics report a steady stream of pre-2010 models. Kimi Kalliomäki, a technician at E-P’s Autokorjaamo in Seinäjoki, said cost is the primary factor: “People simply can’t afford newer cars, so they’re patching up the old ones.”

The financial strain is also changing repair habits. Customers are prioritizing only essential fixes, delaying routine maintenance, and spreading costs over multiple visits. Sohlberg cautioned that skipping preventive care risks turning minor issues into major—and potentially hazardous—problems.

Some workshops have extended shifts to 10–12 hours to cope, but even then, not all vehicles can be accommodated. Kalliomäki noted that safety remains non-negotiable: “There are cases where we won’t release a car back to the road until critical repairs are done.”