The survey also revealed that 52 percent of consumers intend to keep their cars five years or more.

Back when the "Cash for Clunkers" program was beng considered by the Federal Government, Chuck Sulkala, executive director of the National Auto Body Council and owner of Acme Auto Body & Paint in Jamaica Plains, Mass., had this to say about older vehicles: "We repair new vehicles, not 'clunkers.' Our business will improve when the average age of vehicles on the road gets younger, not older. Newer cars get repaired, older ones get totaled or never fixed." 

While these statistics don't bode well for the collision repair industry, they're viewed as positive by automotive service providers, which may reinforce that collision repair facilities would be wise to increase their mechanical service offerings.

In a survey on www.bodyshopbusiness.com in which repairers were asked if they expanded their mechanical services to help their bottom lines in this poor economy, responses were as follows:

Yes 39%

No 32%

Don't offer mechanical services 29%

The NPD survey indicated that to keep their vehicles on the road, the majority of consumers are expecting repairs or maintenance work in 2011. Of those consumers expecting car repairs in 2011, more than 61 percent said they will have a professional do all the work. This percentage is up from 56 percent a year ago. Of those do-it-yourself (DIY) consumers, 34 percent said they expect their DIY activity to be the same or less in 2011 than it was in 2010.

To learn how to repair their cars, consumers have historically turned to friends and family, repair manuals and mechanics, but today the Internet is growing as a how-to source for repairs. NPD's aftermarket survey finds that 42 percent of the outlook survey respondents who plan major repairs in 2011 say they would look to the Internet, including YouTube and social media outlets, to learn to do the work – nearly the same percentage who use the repair manual.

Among those who say they will do their own vehicle repairs in 2011:

Where would you go to learn how to do repairs on your vehicle?

Friend/Family 57%

Vehicle Repair Manual 46%

Mechanic 42%

Internet (including online video and social networks) 42%

Store Personnel 16%

SOURCE: The NPD Group/2011 Aftermarket Consumer Outlook Study

"The new reality is that consumers are keeping their cars longer, and those cars will need repairs and maintenance," said David Portalatin, industry analyst for NPD's aftermarket unit. "For companies providing professional repair and maintenance work, this presents a strong growth opportunity. For companies seeking ways to assist consumers and promote DIY activity, the Internet will be an important tool in 2011."