Who Makes Carquest Auto Parts?

Carquest does not manufacture parts itself. It is a parts brand and store network owned by Advance Auto Parts, a publicly traded retailer that also operates the Advance Auto Parts and Worldpac banners.

Carquest parts are sourced from a wide range of contracted manufacturers and sold through Carquest branded stores as well as independently owned jobber locations across the United States and Canada.

Advance Auto Parts retained ownership of the Carquest brand in both the United States and Canada even after selling its Worldpac import parts business to the private equity firm Carlyle in 2024.

Knowing who owns Carquest today helps shoppers understand how the brand fits within the broader Advance Auto Parts corporate structure.

This guide covers Carquest’s ownership, history, product range, manufacturing sources and how it compares to other major parts store brands.

So lets get started.

Who Owns Carquest

Carquest is owned by Advance Auto Parts, Inc., a publicly traded retailer listed on the New York Stock Exchange that also operates its namesake Advance Auto Parts stores.

Advance Auto Parts acquired the original Carquest Corporation and its network of independently owned stores in 2014, bringing the brand under its corporate umbrella.

In 2024, Advance Auto Parts sold its Worldpac import parts distribution business to the private equity firm Carlyle for 1.5 billion dollars, according to a Carlyle press release announcing the transaction.

Advance Auto Parts specifically retained ownership of the Carquest brand in the United States and Canada during this restructuring, keeping it as part of its core retail business.

Carquest Company History

Carquest traces its roots to a cooperative of independent auto parts jobbers that banded together decades ago to compete more effectively with larger retail chains.

Over the years, Carquest grew into one of the most recognized parts store brands in North America, known for serving both professional mechanics and DIY customers.

Advance Auto Parts acquired Carquest Corporation in 2014, merging its distribution network with Advance’s own retail and wholesale operations.

Since the acquisition, Carquest has continued to operate as a distinct brand with its own store network, even though it now shares a corporate parent with Advance Auto Parts.

What Products Does Carquest Sell

Carquest sells a broad range of automotive parts, including brakes, batteries, filters, belts, hoses, and other maintenance and repair components.

Like most major parts store brands, Carquest does not manufacture these parts itself, instead sourcing them from a network of contracted manufacturers similar to competitors covered in our Who Makes Duralast Batteries guide.

Carquest also operates its own line of private label parts, which are designed to Carquest specifications and produced by outside manufacturing partners.

This combination of private label and name brand parts lets Carquest offer options across a range of price points for customers and professional installers.

Where Are Carquest Parts Made

Carquest parts come from a wide network of manufacturers, both domestic and international, depending on the specific product category and brand selected.

Because Carquest does not manufacture parts in house, the country of origin for any specific item varies based on which contracted factory produced that particular part.

This sourcing structure is standard across major auto parts retailers and mirrors the model used by competitors profiled in our Where Are NAPA Auto Parts Made guide.

Carquest’s private label parts follow the same outsourced manufacturing model, with specifications set by Carquest but production handled by outside partners.

Carquest Store Network and Canada Operations

Carquest operates through a mix of company owned stores and independently owned jobber locations, giving the brand a wide footprint across the United States and Canada.

Following the 2024 Worldpac sale, Advance Auto Parts confirmed it would retain and continue investing in Carquest Canada operations, citing the strength of its long tenured Canadian team.

Carquest Canada and the United States operations share some distribution infrastructure but maintain separate inventory and systems in certain regions.

This dual country footprint distinguishes Carquest from some competitors that operate primarily within a single national market.

Is Carquest Really Good or Worth It

Carquest has a long standing reputation for serving professional mechanics as well as everyday car owners, backed by decades of operating history under the Carquest name.

Since coming under Advance Auto Parts ownership in 2014, Carquest has had access to a larger corporate parent’s resources while maintaining its own distinct store brand.

Quality across Carquest’s parts catalog can vary by category, since the brand spans both private label components and well known outside manufacturer brands.

For customers who value a long standing, professionally oriented parts store brand, Carquest is generally considered a dependable option in the current market.

Carquest Compared to Other Major Parts Brands

Carquest competes directly with NAPA, AutoZone and O’Reilly, each backed by different corporate parent companies and slightly different private label strategies.

Unlike AutoZone, which operates as its own standalone public company, Carquest operates as one of several brands under the larger Advance Auto Parts corporate structure.

Carquest’s focus on both professional installer and do it yourself customers has been a consistent part of its market position for decades, regardless of which corporate parent has owned the brand.

This dual customer focus has helped Carquest maintain relevance even as ownership and corporate structure around the brand have shifted over the years.

Carquest Locations And Finding A Store

Carquest operates thousands of retail and wholesale locations across the United States and Canada, with store counts changing over time as the company opens and consolidates locations.

Customers can search for the nearest Carquest store, check inventory and review product details through the official Carquest website.

Professional installers often work with a specific Carquest location for account based ordering, while DIY customers more commonly shop in store or check online inventory first.

Because Carquest includes both company owned and independently owned jobber stores, service offerings like delivery and installation support can vary by location.

Carquest Private Label Parts Explained

Carquest’s private label parts are designed to the company’s own specifications, covering categories like batteries, brakes and filters at a range of price points.

These private label lines are manufactured by contracted factories, similar to how competitors handle their own store brand parts, including examples discussed on the Carquest entry on Wikipedia.

Private label parts typically offer a lower cost alternative to name brand options while still being backed by Carquest’s own warranty programs.

This private label strategy is common among major parts store chains, letting them control quality and pricing more directly than reselling name brand parts alone.

Carquest Warranty and Customer Support

Carquest backs many of its parts with limited warranties, with specific terms varying depending on the product category and whether the part is private label or name brand.

Customers can find warranty details, store locations and product information through Carquest’s official website and its network of physical retail locations.

Because Carquest operates both company owned and independently owned stores, warranty claim processes can vary slightly depending on which specific location handled the sale.

This mixed ownership model is common among longstanding auto parts store networks that grew out of independent jobber cooperatives.

Frequently Asked Questions About Carquest Auto Parts

Who Makes Carquest Auto Parts

Carquest does not manufacture parts itself. It is owned by Advance Auto Parts and sources its parts from a network of contracted manufacturers.

Who Owns Carquest

Advance Auto Parts, Inc. owns Carquest, having acquired Carquest Corporation in 2014 and retaining the brand across the United States and Canada.

Where Are Carquest Parts Made

Carquest parts, including its private label products, are manufactured by contracted factories both domestically and internationally rather than by Carquest itself.

Is Carquest A Good Auto Parts Brand

Yes, Carquest is generally considered a dependable option, backed by decades of operating history and the resources of its corporate parent, Advance Auto Parts.