It’s a weird time for the "big three" in the car parts world. If you've walked into an Advance Auto Parts lately, you might have noticed things felt a bit... thin. Maybe the shelves weren't as packed as they used to be, or the staff looked a little stressed. People are asking when is Advance Auto Parts closing, and honestly, the answer isn't a simple "yes" or "no" across the board. It's more of a massive, surgical restructuring.
The company recently dropped a bombshell during an earnings call that basically confirmed what many industry analysts had been whispering about for months. They aren't going out of business entirely. Not yet, anyway. But they are shuttering a massive chunk of their footprint. We're talking over 700 locations.
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If you rely on them for your Sunday morning oil change kits or that specific alternator for a 2005 Civic, you're probably wondering if your local spot is on the chopping block.
The 2025-2027 Shutdown Timeline
Shane O’Kelly, the CEO who took the reins to try and steer this ship away from the iceberg, hasn't been shy about the "Asset Optimization Program." That’s corporate-speak for "we have too many stores that aren't making money." The plan is aggressive. They are looking to close 523 corporate-owned stores and exit another 204 independent locations.
When is this happening? It’s already started.
The bulk of these closures are slated to wrap up by the end of 2025, but the ripple effects will likely bleed into early 2027. They aren't just closing retail fronts; they are also axing four distribution centers. This is a big deal because those centers are the heart of how parts actually get to your driveway. By consolidating their "footprint" (another fancy word for buildings they pay rent on), they hope to save enough cash to actually compete with O'Reilly and AutoZone, who have basically been eating their lunch for the last five years.
Why Advance Auto Parts is closing so many doors
You can't talk about these closures without looking at the stock price. It’s been a rough ride. While competitors saw their stock prices climb like a mountain goat, Advance struggled with supply chain mess-ups and thin margins.
Honestly, they got outmaneuvered.
O'Reilly Auto Parts figured out the professional mechanic side of the business—the "Pro" side—way better than Advance did. When a shop needs a water pump, they need it in 20 minutes, not tomorrow. Advance struggled to maintain that kind of "on-demand" logistics.
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Then you have the DIY crowd. Most people nowadays just hop on Amazon or RockAuto if they can wait two days. If they can't wait, they go to the store that they know has the part in stock. Advance’s inventory tech was, frankly, lagging behind.
- Labor costs went up.
- Rent for prime retail spots skyrocketed.
- Inflation made people put off car repairs.
- Inventory management became a nightmare.
It's a perfect storm. They had too many stores too close together in some regions, and in others, they were paying premium rent for locations that barely saw any foot traffic.
Identifying the "At Risk" Stores
So, how do you know if your store is one of the 700? The company hasn't released a giant, public "hit list" of every single address yet. They tend to do these things in waves to avoid a mass exodus of employees. However, there are some clear signs.
Check the clearance rack. If the "discontinued" section is growing and the "new arrivals" are non-existent, that’s a red flag. Look at the staff. If the experienced managers are jumping ship to the Napa down the road, they probably know something you don't.
Geographically, the closures seem to be hitting underperforming markets where the "store density" is too high. If you live in a town with three Advance Auto Parts within a five-mile radius, at least one of them is likely toast. They are shifting toward a "hub and spoke" model. One giant, well-stocked store (the hub) will feed smaller, leaner satellite locations. If your local store is small and rarely has what you need in stock, it might be on the list.
What this means for your warranty and rewards
This is the part that stresses people out. "I bought a DieHard battery with a three-year warranty; what happens if the store vanishes?"
Luckily, DieHard is a brand they own (they bought it from Sears years ago), and it’s one of their biggest assets. Even if your specific neighborhood store closes, your warranty is still valid at any other Advance Auto Parts or Carquest location. Since they are keeping thousands of stores open, you aren't totally stranded.
Same goes for Speed Perks. Your points aren't going to vanish overnight unless the entire corporation files for Chapter 7 liquidation—which is not what is happening here. This is a Chapter 11-style "trimming of the fat," not a total collapse.
The competitive landscape is changing
While Advance shrinks, others are growing. It's a land grab.
AutoZone and O'Reilly are likely licking their chops at these closures. Every time an Advance closes, a group of loyal DIYers and local mechanic shops becomes "free agents." You can bet the competitors will be mailing out coupons to every zip code where a store shuts down.
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There's also the "big box" factor. Walmart has been beefing up its "Auto Care Center" presence. For basic stuff like oil, filters, and bulbs, it's hard to beat Walmart's pricing. Advance is trying to find a middle ground where they offer more expertise than a Walmart kid but better availability than an online warehouse. It's a tightrope walk.
How to handle the transition as a customer
If you're a regular, don't panic. But maybe be a little more strategic.
- Check the app before you drive. If a store is slated for closure, its inventory will often stop being replenished weeks in advance. The app usually reflects this.
- Use your Speed Perks now. Don't sit on $50 worth of rewards for the next two years. Use them on your next maintenance cycle.
- Keep your receipts. Yes, they are in the system, but if a store closes and the data migration to a "hub" store is messy, having that physical or digital receipt for your "Platinum" brake pads will save you a massive headache during a warranty claim.
- Look for "Store Closing" sales. While rare in the auto world because they usually just truck the inventory to another location, some independent Carquest or Advance-branded partners might run "everything must go" events. These are goldmines for tools and fluids.
The bigger picture for the auto industry
Advance Auto Parts closing stores is a canary in the coal mine for retail. It's not just about cars. It's about how we buy heavy, specialized goods. We are moving toward a world where physical stores are more like "showrooms" or "pickup points" rather than warehouses.
The company is betting big on their "Standardization" plan. They want every store to look the same, act the same, and have the same parts. For years, Advance was a patchwork of different acquisitions that never truly integrated. This "closing" phase is actually an attempt to finally become one cohesive company.
Whether it works or not depends on if they can fix their "out of stock" problem. You can have the prettiest store in the world, but if I need a belt tensioner for a 2012 Ford F-150 and you don't have it, I'm going to O'Reilly. Period.
Actionable Next Steps
- Download the Advance Auto Parts app: It's the fastest way to see if your local store's inventory is dwindling or if they've changed their hours—often a precursor to closing.
- Consolidate your warranties: Take ten minutes to snap photos of any "Lifetime Warranty" parts you’ve bought recently. Save them in a dedicated folder in your email or cloud storage.
- Compare local prices: If your local Advance is one of the ones closing, start checking out the nearest O'Reilly, Napa, or AutoZone. Most of these places will price-match, and now is a good time to see who has the best "Pro" desk if you're doing heavy repair work.
- Watch the "independent" stores: If your local shop is an independent dealer using the Advance/Carquest name, talk to the owner. They are the ones facing the most uncertainty in this 2025-2027 window and might appreciate the heads-up or the continued loyalty as they navigate the exit from the corporate umbrella.
The "Advance Auto Parts closing" narrative is really a story about a company trying to survive in a world where "okay" isn't good enough anymore. They're cutting off the limbs to save the heart. For the average driver, it means fewer locations, but hopefully, better service at the ones that remain. Keep an eye on the signage at your local strip mall; the next eighteen months will tell the real story.